PEACTICAL FOEESTEY. 



out, and in not a few cases the future result will certainly 

 be discreditable to all concerned, simply because the work 

 has not been properly done. In crowded streets ana 

 squares, where the air is vitiated with impurities, and the 

 soil hard and often surcharged with gaseous matter, tree- 

 planting is a different matter to what it is along the side 

 of a field. In the latter case, it may be sufficient to open 

 a small pit, insert the tree, and stake it ; but in our large 

 towns the case is totally different, for the soil, hard as iron, 

 and composed mainly of clinkers and shingle, affords but 

 little nourishment to a rapid-growing tree, and one that, 

 moreover, has to do battle with the deleterious effects of an 

 impure atmosphere. Another fruitful cause of failure in 

 street-planting is placing the pavement above the roots, and 

 in too close proximity to the stems. 



The roots should always be allowed plenty of breathing- 

 room, and to effect this a good-sized space should be railed 

 off around each tree, and no pavement laid within it. In so 

 doing, a double benefit is conferred, by allowing free 

 access of rain to the roots, and avoiding the accumulation 

 of noxious gases in the ground, which are inimical to the 

 welfare of the trees. Where street trees are to be planted, 

 a good-sized patch of ground say, at least 6 ft. in diameter 

 and 4 ft. in depth should be thoroughly broken up, and it 

 the soil is of inferior quality, which will assuredly be so in 

 90 per cent, of the pits, good fresh loam should be substi- 

 tuted. By undermining the sides of the pits a much larger 

 receptacle for the roots will be formed, and this will not 

 occasion so much of the footway on a pavement being torn 

 up as if the pits were of equal diameter top and bottom. 



> The plants used should be such as have been specially 

 prepared for the purpose by being frequently transplanted 

 for some years previous to being placed in their final position. 

 They should be stout, stocky, well-rooted, clean, and from 

 6 ft. to 9 ft. in height. In planting, spread the roots well 

 out around the stem, and do not bury too deep, the mark 

 visible on the stem as to how deep the trees stood in the 

 nursery border being the best criterion to go by. As regards 



the best time to plant town trees opinions differ, but there 



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