naturally presents itself, and I think that I am perfectly 

 safe in saying that the consensus of opinion among tree 

 wardens and city foresters in this State is in favor of the 

 Norway maple. This tree is especially in favor for the 

 narrower streets, as its growth is not too rampant and 

 in addition it well endures the omnipresent abuse. Its 

 bright green foliage has few insect enemies and forms a 

 compact round head not easily broken by storms. It 

 would of course be unwise to plant a whole town to this 

 tree, not only because the effect would be monotonous, 

 but also from the fact that an epidemic of a pest favoring 

 this tree would do incalculable harm. 



The American elm, the red oak and pin oak, the 

 European plane, the gingko, the white ash, and the 

 European linden are all good, strong trees and should 

 be considered in planning city planting, but in no case 

 should any one street be planted to more than one 

 variety. This has been done, I know, but the effect is 

 always disturbing and has been well described as being 

 like a row of buttons, all monstrously different, on a 

 man's waistcoat. Broad avenues, parkways and prom- 

 enades are sometimes planted with three or more rows, 

 and when this is done, the center rows may differ from 

 the others with good effect. 



Another thing to guard against is the pernicious prac- 

 tice of using such quickly growing and weak trees as 

 poplars, silver maple and box elder. Had I the power 

 I would prohibit the planting of these trees on any city 

 street. The Carolina poplars especially are a great 

 nuisance on account of the habit of penetrating and 

 clogging drains. The smallest crevice in a pipe or a 

 connection will be searched out, and it is simply a ques- 

 tion of time before the drain is entirely filled by a great 

 mass of root fibers. I have in mind an occasion which 

 came to my notice only last year, when over twenty feet 

 of vitrified tile sewer thirteen feet under ground had 

 become completely filled with poplar roots. While the box 

 elder and silver maple do not have this same bad habit, 

 they share with the poplar, weak wood of rampant growth, 

 that invites the attack of borers, a propensity for insect 

 pests, and a short life. It is true that they are rapid 

 growers, but too rapid growth is just the thing to be avoid- 

 ed, as the air space in any street is naturally limited. 



Especial care must be taken to prepare the soil in the 



