84 



STREET AND HIGHWAY PLANTING. 



At this point it might be well to consider the tree for the planting. 

 This tree, as it comes from the nursery, should have a good system of 

 roots with a large proportion of fibrous roots. The main stem should 

 be unbranched, so that it will keep unbranched for at least twelve feet. 

 If this point is assured, there will not be so much pruning needed later 

 to keep the tree in good form. Of course there are some species 

 which will have to be headed even higher, but these cases can be deter- 

 mined in local practice. Since even with the greatest of care some 

 of the root system is lost in transplanting, a corresponding reduction 

 must be made in the top. This top pruning can be well done only by 



Natural afd.de 0PMI. 



Fig. 44. 



Fig. 45. 



careful study of the individual tree, so that the new growth starting 

 from the undeveloped buds will be able to grow along the most desirable 

 lines. 



Some species grow symmetrically by nature and call for little effort 

 on the part of the nurseryman to maintain a good shape. On the other 

 hand, there are a great many species which need considerable care. A 

 case in point would be the popular camphor tree. This tree, as it 

 usually occurs on parking places, is headed quite low. This is the 

 nature of the tree. But according to competent nurserymen this habit 

 can be overcome by a careful training in the nursery. The mature 

 head of the camphor tree is broad and spreading, and if we have that 

 head forming some five to six feet above the ground level, it is inevitable 

 that it should interfere with pedestrians. At best the conditions are 

 very artificial and limited, yet the utilitarian aspect of the problem 

 can not be overlooked. So, then, when we accept our conditions, we 

 must be forced to realize that for comfort to pedestrians, free play of 

 light and air, our trees must be headed higher. How to induce this is 



