ing hard, well-rotted manure, fine straw, shavings, pine needles, 

 evergreen boughs. Do not place the mulch too near the trunk of 

 the tree. Then (3) any of the mulches named will make for the 

 mellowness of the soil, by acting as a shield against the pelting of 

 the storms of rain, hail, snow, sleet — also against the baking heat 

 of the sun. The soil that is protected by its blanket of mulch does 

 not cake or harden. And (-i) where the mulch is at the same time 

 a fertilizer, such as stable manure (rotted), the leechings seep 

 down into the soil and enrich it with added plant food. 



The city trees have to live an artificial life, and, for that reason, 

 they require a great deal of water, especially during the hot sum- 



Small Leaf European Linden on Prospect Avenue, showing uniform growth, 

 straight stems and well balanced heads of these trees 



mer months. Let the owner help, therefore, by keeping the soil 

 well watered, especially in dry, hot weather. Use, say, five gallons 

 three times a week — or, better, twenty gallons once a week. Also, 

 in dry, hot weather, wash down the tree itself, the whole of it, with 

 plenty of water. Among other benefits of this latter treatment, 

 the leaves, which are the lungs of the tree, are cleaned of dust, and 

 the breathing pores are thus freed to open up and take in the life- 

 sustaining air. Then, besides the leaves, the entire tree (trunk, 

 branches and all) has its system of breathing pores, and these also 

 need to be kept open and in good breathing order. So the washing- 

 down with water helps much, you see. And, notice this: whether 

 watering the soil or the tree itself, do it not in the heat of the day, 



9 



