CITY FORESTRY AND SHADE TREES 159 
start has been made. Our national ceapital—practically 
the only city in the country laid out according to a 
definite plan, made ample provision for drives, parks 
and the planting of trees and as a consequence Wash- 
ington is beyond doubt the most beautiful city on this 
continent. 
To have city forestry as it is called—although for- 
estry is really raising trees for timher rather than for 
shade—properly carried out a regular organization in 
charge of trained men is necessary. The striking ab- 
sence of shade trees along the principal streets of our 
larger cities is not alone the result of the mania for 
tree cutting so prevalent a few years ago, but also to 
the fact that trees in the cities are living in very dif- 
ficult surroundings. 
Adverse Conditions in the City—Growing under nat- 
ural conditions in the forest a tree may be crowded 
a little by its fellows but yet its roots have plenty of 
room, the rain that falls is quickly absorbed by the 
‘porous water-holding wood loam and the mulch of 
leaves and twigs in its decay releases plenty of food 
for the proper nourishment of the trees. How dif- 
ferent are the conditions in a city! Where not paved 
with asphalt or stone blocks the streets are surfaced 
with a macadamized layer which will not permit any 
air or water to penetrate, and on the other side the 
pavement built in most cases close around the tree 
completes the airtight ring of stone and concrete. 
Unless there is a lawn between the sidewalk and houses 
the root system is forced to exist In very narrow 
‘ quarters and is compelled to do with a minimum of 
water and air, for roots as well as leaves need arr. 
Even the air is not at all suited to tree growth, for 
while human beings can survive the dust and soot-laden 
