Shade Trees for Streets and Parks 113 



soming time together with the ease with which it suckers 

 from the roots are qualities which a street tree should not 

 possess. Young trees, if properly trained, present a graceful 

 appearance in spring time when the leaves first unfold. The 

 leaves are green until late in the fall when frost occurs. 

 The branches look clumsy in winter because there are few 

 small, lateral branches and in severe winters the twigs are 

 frosted back. The tree grows in barren soil and thrives in 

 regions of smoke and dust. When a tree is wanted, not for its 

 ornamental qualities but for its ability to endure adverse 

 conditions the Ailanthus should be given first place. 



Black Locust (Robinia pseudacacia Linn.). 



This species is often used for ornamental and street pur- 

 poses. It is a rapid grower and adapts itself to almost any 

 soil. The flowers occur in large, fragrant, white clusters 

 which have a most attractive setting against the dark green 

 foliage. On the better sites it develops a round or elliptical 

 crown while on the poorer sites it is ugly, straggling and 

 generally unsatisfactory. The locust borer disfigures the lower 

 part of the trunk and often weakens the tree so that it is 

 broken down by wind. Altogether this is a poor species for 

 street planting when other species can be grown. 



PLANTING SHADE TREES. 



When trees are taken from the nursery to be planted on 

 the streets it is necessary to exercise great care in order to 

 allow the trees to make vigorous growth after being placed 

 in their new home. As has well been said, "Transplanting 

 a tree from one site to another is a surgical operation during 

 which the patient needs special attention." In digging up 

 a tree it is advisable to leave as many rootlets as possible 

 in order that it may be enabled to supply the moisture so 

 necessary to good growth. If the root system is not kept 

 intact then it becomes necessary to cut back branches to main- 

 tain the balance between roots and crown. The ground must 

 be prepared where the tree is to be planted. If the soil is fer- 

 tile and there is good drainage a hole can be made large 

 enough to receive the roots in their natural position so there 

 will be no crowding, and the same soil may be put over the 

 roots. If the soil is poor, fertile soil must be hauled in to 



