94 STREET AND HIGHWAY PLANTING. 



untrained trees are very often of most unkempt and straggling habit. 

 The tree has a fashion of forming several leaders, which develop along 

 divergent lines with most unhappy results. Where, however, the trees 

 develop well along natural lines it has a fine pyramidal style. 



The common practice of beheading is often noted for eucalypts, 

 peppers, poplars, umbrella trees and others. All of these trees have 

 remarkable powers of refurnishing themselves with branches, but the 

 practice certainly does not add beauty in most instances. The eucalypts 

 can be kept in bounds in no other way in the city streets, i. e., of course, 

 those species which have the very tall columnar habit. Peppers are 

 usually so treated for black scale infestations, and seem none the worse 

 for it. Poplars, umbrella trees and others are usually so treated to 

 reduce the amount of shade, and are hopelessly disfigured for a time. 

 This practice has its value, but is not a legitimate phase of pruning 

 but rather a makeshift for convenience. 



If, however, the individual is studied and the pruning done yearly 

 after active growth has ceased for the big pruning, and from time to 

 time for small items which call for individual attention, there will be 

 produced a uniformity which will aid the utilitarian aspect of the street 

 equipment without affecting to any great degree the individuality of 

 the specimens. 



The highest form of pruning for street trees is that form which does 

 not show in any way and yet effects the desired results. In accom- 

 plishing this, of course, great care is required. Constant attention 

 during the first few years will regulate the form of the trunk and main 

 branches. After this the pruning devotes itself largely to minor details. 

 Constant observation will show any dead or diseased limbs, which 

 should be promptly removed. In the same way branches which tend 

 to grow at irregular angles can be curbed. In all cases where smaller 

 branches are removed, care should be taken that the cut should be made 

 just beyond a point where growth can be carried on in the desired 

 direction. By this forethought oftentimes considerable work can be 

 saved later. Should the crown become too dense, it should be thinned 

 out from time to time. In doing this the inner branches should be 

 removed and the smaller ones, so that the shape and outline of the tree 

 will not be seriously modified. 



All of these operations call for continuous work more or less all of 

 the time. In California there is not, strictly speaking, any period 

 when there is no growth of any kind ; but it can be safely said that the 

 greatest activity is in the spring and early summer. If, then, a 

 minimum of pruning is performed during that time, with reasonable 

 discretion, it may be carried on through the remainder of the year, 

 leaving the heavy work till the winter, when the least amount of sap 

 will be flowing. 



