chapter v. 

 Shade Trees in City Streets. 



By Wm. McMillan. ' 



SHADE trees along the borders of the streets were at onetime 

 a distinguishing feature of American cities. But this distinc- 

 tion is not now as marked as it formerly was. Our example 

 has been largely copied in the suburban districts of nearly all 

 the rapidly growing cities of Europe. In many of them the street 

 planting has been more thorough, systematic and successful, than in 

 any American city, Washington excepted. In the chief business sec- 

 tions of every large city the conditions are fatal to street trees. 

 Where the population is dense, the traffic large, the atmosphere 

 smoky and dusty, and the sidewalk borders almost impervious to 

 water, trees cannot thrive or long endure. Even those which may 

 survive for a time, as if defying the common fate, are cut down to 

 give more room for the daily business of the streets. Thus even in 

 the most fashionable residence sections of every large city fine ave- 

 nues of trees are now rarely seen, except in the newer outskirts and 

 adjacent suburbs. But away from the larger marts of trade our early 

 pre-eminence in street planting is probably still maintained. Wher- 

 ever the conditions are favorable our streets are embowered in foliage, 

 and on every new street that is opened the planting usually keeps 

 pace with the other improvements. We have many fine examples 

 of this in all sections of the country, but we need not look far away 

 for a model. This city of Rochester is as good an example as any. 

 Perhaps no city in the country has had equal advantages in soil, sub- 

 soil, natural drainage, tree supply, good example and public spirit. 

 If in summer we take a bird's-eye-view of the town from the outlook 

 pavilion in Highland Park, the houses seem to be nearly Hidden by 



* An address given before the annual meeting of the Western New \'orlc Horticaltural 

 Society, at Rochester, faniiar\', 1S93. 



(32) 



