August, 1910 



THE (^ A R D 1<: N M A G A Z I X E 



19 



light and trolley wires, the current killing 

 part or all of branch or trunk. 



Leaking of gas is a source of constant 

 trouble. This killed one tree in three weeks. 

 Specimens affected by small quantities of 

 gas will begin to die from the top, and the 

 extent of dead wood increases annually. 

 Where large quantities escape, the tree may 

 be defoliated in two weeks. Whenever a 

 a tree appears to be affected in this man- 

 ner the forester digs a hole, and, if he dis- 

 covers gas, requires the lighting company to 

 stop the leak. If destruction has not gone 

 too far, the tree may be saved, but generally 

 it is too late. No remedy is known. 



In urging tree-planting, I distribute 

 pamphlets giving twelve reasons for the 

 improvement: 



Trees are beautiful in form and color, 

 inspiring a constant appreciation of nature. 



Trees enhance the beauty of architecture. 



Trees create sentiment, love of country, 

 city, state, and home. 



Trees have an educational influence upon 

 citizens of all ages, especially children. 



Trees encourage outdoor life. 



Trees purify the air. 



Trees cool the air in summer and radiate 

 warmth in winter. 



Trees improve climate, conserve soil and 

 moisture. 



Trees furnish a resting-place and shelter 

 for birds. 



Trees increase the value of real estate. 



Trees counteract adverse conditions of 

 city life. 



One well-planted tree in front of a resi- 

 dence adds beauty to it, even though the 

 home may be elaborately designed; while all 

 the unsightly features of a house may be 

 screened from view by proper planting. 



A permit from the city forester must be 

 secured before any parkway tree is cut down 

 or injured in any way, and it is forbidden to 

 fasten any rope, wire, sign, poster, or hand- 

 bill to a tree. Guards must be placed around 

 trees during building operations, and 

 specimens in places subject to injury also 

 must be protected. Likewise, a permit 



Proper planting means a great deal. Make the 

 hole larger than the roots actually need 



A legacy from before the days of city control. Muti- 

 lation of trees by public service linemen 



must be secured from the city forester before 

 a tree may be planted in the streets, and the 

 distance apart is regulated by city ordinance; 

 he also has power to specify what trees shall 

 be planted. This secures a uniform avenue 

 effect and prevents incongruous planting. 



It has been one of my aims to interest 

 teachers and school children. I believe this 

 work has saved hundreds of trees from 

 injury. The teachers are arousing the 

 interest of the pupils in trees, shrubs, and 

 flowers, teaching them to recognize the more 

 common species. 



A fact that has not been emphasized suf- 

 ficiently is that the death-rate among children 

 is diminished where the intense heat of the 

 summer months is mitigated by the evapora- 

 tion of large quantities of water from the 

 surface of the leaves of trees. Street trees 

 help to keep the dust and bacterial impurities 

 from being carried into the homes. It may 

 be poor landscape-gardening, but I commend 

 the idea, which is very popular in many sec- 

 tions of Chicago, of planting shrubbery in 

 front of the windows to keep out some of the 

 dust. 



A query that I am called upon to answer 

 almost every day is, "What kind of a tree 

 shall I plant ? " To this I invariably answer, 

 do not plant any fast-growing, short-lived, 

 soft-wooded tree. It isn't worth while. 

 Because oaks in Chicago or other cities have 

 been gradually dying out, and other hard- 

 wood trees have not grown well in some local- 

 ities, is not evidence they wdll not grow. 

 They have suffered from unnatural condi- 

 tions and lack of proper care. The fact 

 that they have grown up to now is proof 

 that they will thrive under favorable con- 

 ditions. These old trees were planted before 

 any street improvements had been made. 

 They developed a sprawly root system, 

 unsuited for the confinement to which their 

 roots are subjected in the present parkways 

 of any large city, yet we see these grand trees 

 tenaciously struggling for existence. 



The choice of the tree to be set out should 

 be governed by the best variety that is in the 

 majority along any particular street; the 

 vain desire to outdo a neighbor should not 

 enter into the selection. 



P' ::l 



In Chicago the general idea is to plant 

 no tree smaller than two and one-half inc hes 

 in diameter at a foot above the ground. 

 While it is advisal)le to make that the 

 ma.ximum size, the advantage of smaller 

 trees lies in the fact that they take root 

 quickly, readily adapt themselves to new 

 conditions, are always sure to grow, develop 

 rapidly and into better form, cost less, 

 and can be replaced quickly and transplanted 

 safely. Cutting back smaller trees at the 

 time of planting does not destroy their fukire 

 form. 



The qualities which make the best street 

 tree are abihty to endure the unnatural 

 conditions of city life, immunity from in- 

 sects and fungous pests, beauty of form and 

 color, suitability to the architecture and 

 character of the street, shade-producing 

 qualities, retention of fohage until late in the 

 fall, and autumn coloring. 



A thorough study of avenue and lawn trees 

 in several cities has been conducted by the 

 Chicago Department of Forestry. Following 

 is a Hst of the best city street trees: 



American elm {Ulmus Americana). In 

 locahties where soil and atmosphere con- 

 ditions are good 

 this tree should be 

 planted fifty feet 

 apart, in less favor- 

 able localities forty 

 feet apart; should 

 be confined to wide 

 streets. 



Sugar or h.^rd 

 MAPLE {Acer sacc- 

 liarum). A hard- 

 wood tree, not 

 readily susceptible 

 to insect and fun- 

 gous diseases, ex- 

 ceedingly good; 

 dense, dignified top, 

 grows rapidly in 

 good soil, but does 

 not thrive on hea\'y 

 clay. Plant forty 

 feet apart. 



Silver maple 

 {A cer saccliarinii m) . 

 Rapid grower; 

 splendid branches; 

 should be used only 

 on wide streets; 

 forty feet apart; 

 grows in almost any 

 soil. A soft-wood 

 tree, it is unable to 

 withstand wind and 

 snow-storms, and is 

 susceptible to in- 

 sect and fungous 

 diseases. For these 

 reasons must be 

 planted sparingly. 



NORW.A.Y maple 



{Acer platanoides). 

 Resembles sugar 

 maple; one of the ' 



best; should be Tree guards are es.en- 



1 J i- i r . t'3-1 ii city streets. Let 



placed forty feet ^^^^ ^^ ^.^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ 



apart; develops and unobtrusive 



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K^S 



