STREET TREES. 6 



Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of 

 Mexico. (Figs. 2, 10, and 13.) A few have planted better and more 

 lasting trees (figs. 1, 3, and 4); but the tree growth on the streets 

 of the average town or city is ragged and unkempt in appearance, 

 while that of the suburb or small village is not much better unless 

 the planting has been done under municipal control and the plant- 

 ings on a street have been confined to a single kind of tree. 



The advent of such civilizing agencies as the telegraph, the tele- 

 phone, the electric light, and the trolley car have added each its 

 share toward the mutilation or destruction of the good treqs that 

 were in existence at the time of their coming. Faulty methods of 



PI25I5HP 



Fig. 3.— American elms on a city street in midsummer. All these trees were planted at one time at 

 imiform distances apart by the Commissioners of Washington, D. C. 



pruning also have caused much disfigurement and ruin. (Figs. 5 

 and 21.) To this 'mutilation has been added the unnecessary de- 

 struction of many trees in centers of business (fig, 6), because they 

 excluded a little daylight, or made a store less prominent, or v/ere 

 somewhat in the way of using the sidewalk for merchandise. 



In spite of all these troubles tree plantmg has continued because 

 people love trees, enjoy well-shaded streets, and are willing to make 

 efforts to get them. The trees on well-shaded streets are not only 

 pleasing, but also contribute toward the health of the community 

 by transpiring moisture into the atmosphere and by producmg a 

 restful effect on eyes and nerves. Red, especially, is known to have 

 an exciting effect on human beings, and where city streets are well 



