STREET TREES. 107 



may only have crooks in them that will be outgrown in a few 

 years. 



STREET TREES. 



Success with street trees is perhaps more dependent on 

 good soil about the roots than on any other one factor. If 

 the land is so very sandy or gravelly as to be subject to 

 drouth at least two cubic yards (two full two horse loads) 

 should be taken from where each tree is to be planted and 

 the same amount of good clay or loam substituted fpr it. If 

 in subsequent years the trees outgrow the limits of the material 

 supplied, more of it .should be added, and if this consists 

 largely of stable manure, so much the better, provided it does 

 not come into contact with the roots of the trees. It is 

 important to do this work thoroughly, for one tree well 

 planted is better than a dozen poorly set out. 



Kinds of Trees. The best trees for street planting in this 

 section are the White Elm, Hackberry, Green Ash, Basswood, 

 Box Elder and Soft Maple. All of these trees do well in good 

 soil, and with the exception of the Soft Maple they all do 

 w r ell in rather inferior land. Evergreens may sometimes be 

 used to advantage along narrow drives, but they are seldom 

 desirable as street trees. The trees planted should be about 

 two to four inches in diameter near the ground, eight or ten 

 feet high, and of thrifty growth. Much larger trees are some- 

 times set out, but it is not advisable, as a rule, to plant those 

 that are over four inches in diameter. Smaller trees are 

 often planted and do well if properly cared for, but need more 

 attention in directing their growth than those that are larger. 

 But small, thrifty trees are much better for street planting 

 than large stunted trees. In all cases it is more important to 

 have plenty of good roots than a large top, as a top can soon 

 be developed if the roots are good. 



Distance Apart. The distance between trees depends on the 

 kind planted and the quality of the land. On rich land in 

 this section the trees named should be put 40 feet apart; in 

 fairly good soil, about 30 feet, and in poor soil 20 feet apart. 

 This gives sufficient room for good development but where a 

 quick effect is wanted it is a good plan to set the trees much 

 thicker than this and use Cottonwood, Willow, or similar fast 



