82 STEEET AND HIGHWAY PLANTING. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE PLANTING OF STREET TREES. 



At first thought it might seem that street trees would need no more 

 careful planting than any other tree, but if we consider how much 

 more artificial are the conditions under which it must live, we can see 

 why special care should be paid to this feature. Here of course is the 

 stumbling block for many ambitious enterprises. And that is, the 

 expense of adequate preparation. 



From actual practice it has been found that for best success a hole 

 at least three feet in length for each of the three dimensions should be 

 excavated. If the nature of the soil does not demand an addition of 

 fertilizer, the top soil is put at the bottom and the lower soil brought 

 to the top. In most cases it will pay best in the end to add some 

 fertilizer. In some cities the street sweepings are saved and used for 

 this purpose. These are quite excellent for lightening the consistency 

 of the soil, but vary considerably in their value from the food stand- 

 point. Again, if the soil is of a very clayey nature, the addition of 

 lime is a valuable point to remember. Fig. 41 represents the method 

 of work in a very good soil naturally approaching the ideal. Fig. 42 

 represents the method employed by a local stock company of citizens, 

 which cares for their plantings, in Garvanza. This method is to be 

 recommended over the preceding in any case. In cases of specially 

 clayey soil this company adopts the following method of using lime to 

 free the soil particles. Fig. 43. 



It has been found that by the time the roots of the tree reach the 

 lower levels (a-a), that the lime has spent itself and broken up the 

 colloidal clay so that the soil is easily penetrated by the roots. 



At all plantings arrangement is made for watering, Fig. 44. Usually 

 the top six inches of soil is kept loose, so that it can be drawn back to 

 form a rim and the hollow flooded. After the water has disappeared 

 this loose material is thrown back as a mulch. For planting on hillsides 

 the tree is placed as in Fig. 45. If, in addition to the dry soil mulch, 

 stable litter or even dry grass can be added, it will be of advantage. 



After planting, the tree should be staked, and for obvious reasons the 

 stake should be on the side nearest the source of the prevailing winds. 

 Usually one strong stake, eight to ten feet high, will suffice, and this 

 can usually be removed after the sixth or seventh year. 



These holes should be prepared before the trees are obtained, so that 

 the soil mav have time to settle. 





