Dig the tree with a good ball of earth, 

 to hold the roots 



Carefully root-prune, cutting bacK the 

 larger broKen ends 



Wrap in straw for burlap, to hold soil Carrying home one of the trees from 

 and prevent drying the city nursery 



How Boston Encourages Tree Planting 



A CLEAR-CUT SCHEME FOR SECURING SHADED SIDEWALKS— HOW BOSTON CUTS THE RED TAPE, 

 GIVES A PERMIT TO TEAR UP THE SIDEWALK, AND FOR SEVENTY CENTS ACCOMPLISHES WHAT 

 THE INDIVIDUAL WILL NOT DO, BECAUSE IT COSTS $5.00, AND A THOUSAND - DOLLAR BOND 



Photographs by Luke J. Doogue 



THREES to the number of two thousand 

 -^ are distributed gratuitously each year 

 by the city of Boston for planting along the 

 sidewalks. The result of all this missionary 

 work has been that the city, even in its crowd- 

 ed districts and all through the suburbs, has 

 taken on a characteristic garden effect that 

 impresses even the casual visitor. From 

 shade-tree planting to shrubbery planting 

 for ornamental effect in the front yards is 

 but a short step of progress. Whole streets 

 have thus been planted which otherwise 

 would have remained treeless for very many 

 years. 



The stock used in this way is purchased 

 by the city from the large nurseries as oppor- 

 tunity offers, and comprises maple, elm, ash, 

 beech, poplar, linden. The trees cost, 

 landed at the city nurseries, including freight 

 and cartage, about seventy cents apiece. 



So far as possible the special desires of the 



The trees are grown-on in the city nursery, properly 

 tended and root-pruned. These are maples j 



applicants are supplied; first choice is for 

 the rock maple, next comes the elm, and then 

 the poplar. The trees are grown in the 

 nursery for from two to three years before 

 being given out, and at the time of delivery 

 they are excellent specimens. With each 

 tree is given a circular emphasizing the neces- 

 sity of good loam and careful planting. 

 When several trees are taken a reliable man 

 is sent to supervise the work of planting. 



In order to see that the results are satis- 

 factory to the city, there is an annual stock 

 taking in the fall which has developed the 

 interesting fact that fully 80 per cent, of those 

 trees reported dead were found to have been 

 killed by too deep planting — as much as three 

 feet deep in the worst cases, despite the under- 

 lined directions in the circular. 



It was a matter of pleasant surprise in 

 making a record of the trees to find that a 

 very large percentage of the requests came 

 from districts where one would hardly think 

 people could afford to spend any part of their 

 small incomes otherwise than on the neces- 

 sities of life. 



Great interest in the work has been shown 

 by the many civic improvement associations 

 and tree clubs; hundreds of their members 

 have taken and planted trees. This has 

 been very satisfactory. The members of 

 these organizations realize the objects in view, 

 and also understand the necessity of the work 

 being done properly. 



Two years ago one thousand trees were 

 reserved for the Roxburgh Tree Club and it 

 has succeeded in distributing the entire lot. 

 The Bethelmstone Tree Club planted 125 

 trees last year, and the East Boston Home 

 Club planted quite a number on the public 

 streets. Every improvement association and 

 tree club has been represented. 

 166 6 



Twice annually for the past ten years the 

 Department of Public Grounds has given 

 these trees to any one that would apply for 

 them, the only condition being that the trees 

 would be planted either on the highway or 

 on the edge of the lawn, so that in time the 

 shade would fall across the sidewalk. The 

 superintendent of the department also obtains 

 the necessary permit for opening the sidewalk, 

 which if otherwise taken out would require 

 a thousand-dollar bond. 



Notice of these distributions is given in the 

 daily papers. Applications are made in 

 writing to the Superintendent of Public 

 Grounds, and if, after an inspection of the pro- 

 posed place of planting the conditions are 

 found favorable, an order is mailed to the 

 applicant, who can then get the trees on 

 application to the nursery. 



Trees not distributed in the fall are heeled in over 

 winter, ready for handling in spring 



