37 



American White Birch. When of sufficient size the birch 

 is made into lumber for the manufacture of furniture and vari- 

 ous wooden implements. The chief use of small trees such as 

 (are found native in the northern part of the state, is for fuel. 

 This tree makes a fairly rapid growth and its extreme hardiness 

 and striking beauty lead to its being largely planted. 



STREET AND LAWN PLANTING. 



The interest in tree planting to improve the appearance and 

 comfort of our towns and villages is being made manifest in 

 many localities. At other points little or nothing has been done 

 and as a result their cheerless and forlorn aspect makes a sorry 

 comparison with the beauty and attractiveness of their more en- 

 terprising neighbors. All of the timber trees that have been 

 named are more or less suited to street and lawn planting and in 

 addition there are other smaller sorts that are useful for orna- 

 mental purposes only. 



Throughout the middle and northern states the elm is usually 

 looked upon as the best tree for street planting though at the 

 present time the box elder and the cottonwood are more exten- 

 sively used in North Dakota. The elm combined with these, or 

 rather with the Carolina poplar and box elder makes a good com- 

 bination. On the outside of the walk, plant the Carolina poplar 

 and elm alternately, leaving twenty feet between the trees. On 

 the inside of the walk plant the box elders opposite the poplars. 

 At the end of fifteen or twenty years the poplars should be re- 

 moved leaving the elm and box elder alternating on opposite 

 sides of the walk with a space of forty feet between the trees 

 oi each row and a tree for every twenty feet along the walk. 



It is the ordinary practice to set trees much closer than this 

 and never remove them. Some people are too kind hearted to 

 cut down a tree. Others have still kinder hearts and cut down 

 some that the remainder may grow into natural and perfect shape. 

 Such trees live longer and unless one takes pleasure in deformed 

 things look better. 



Trees for street planting should be nursery grown if possible 

 and in all cases should be headed high. The trunks should be 

 straight and two inches or more in diameter excepting the Caro- 

 lina poplars which may be smaller. It is difficult for a very small 

 tree of most varities to grow tall and symmetrical when set in 

 an open and exposed place. They should be grown in the nursery 

 long enough to give them an established form and character. 



