Ornamental Planting. 



121 



68. Screen for placing over Roots of 

 Trees in Pavements. 



highly ornamental, and a monogram, a trade-mark, a sign, or any 

 other device may be introduced, 

 that fancy might suggest. In front 

 of premises owned by a city or a 

 state, the crest of the official arms 

 would be very proper. The part 

 with radiating bars, in this sketch, 

 might be of several sizes, to be 

 changed as the tree became large, 

 and the grating might be sup- 

 ported by wrought-iron bars, as 

 represented by dotted lines. The 

 inner disc should be cast in two sections, and the outer one in 

 two or more. In our figure we have shown three divisions. They 

 should be securely fastened down, and would be very durable. 

 They might be circular, oval, or in any other form, and being flush 

 with the pavements, tl.ey would not in the least interfere with their 

 use. The edge nearest the tree should have a flange turned up, so 

 as to prevent injury to the bark by sliding objects. 



475. With respect to the kinds of trees most suitable for streets 

 and roadsides, it is impossible to give a rule. There are some, like 

 the horse chestnut, the catalpas, and the conifers generally, that ap- 

 pear to better advantage alone or in groups, upon a lawn or in a 

 park, while others, like the elms, box-elder, maples, locusts, poplars, 

 lindens, and many of the oaks show to fine advantage in avenues. 



476. In Germany, we see many miles of continuous lines of ap- 

 ple trees by the roadside, and in the absence offences marking their 

 direction for great distances across the country. In France, it is 

 common to find the Lombardy poplar thus planted ; and in Italy, 

 the mulberry and the olive, often supporting festoons of grape- 

 vines, and in their season loaded with fruit. 



477. In planting the roadsides in a prairie, a rod or so of land should 

 be thoroughly broken up and cultivated along the line, before the 

 trees are set, and some hoed crop may be cultivated to advantage 

 between and around them till they get well set. 



478. In planting screens of evergreen to prevent snowdrifts in 

 exposed places, the trees should be set in several oblique rows, as in 

 the quincunx order [ 181], and should be protected, if need be, by 

 a fence, until able to protect themselves. 



