14 BULLETIN 816, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
the street for use as lawns and gardens the conditions would be made 
more livable, opportunity would be offered for widening the public 
way without prohibitive expense if traffic or business demanded it, 
and the growing of street trees would cease to be a serious problem. 
P1i6842HP 
Fic. 13.—A street with too little room from houseline to houseline. Note the more attractive appear- 
ance of the side with trees. Norway and silver maplesin Frederick, Md., in midsummer. 
KINDS OF TREES SUITABLE FOR CITY STREETS. 
QUALITIES NECESSARY. 
Compared with the whole number of trees used for ornamental 
planting, the number of kinds suitable for street planting is very 
small. For use under city conditions a tree must be adapted to the 
climate and to the soil upon which it is to be grown. It must have 
healthy foliage that withstands dust and smoke and a root system 
not easily affected by unusual soil conditions, by restricted feeding 
areas, or by root pruning when street improvements are made. The 
top should be in proportion to the width of the street upon which it 
is used, and it should be rather high headed or easily trained to that 
form and of open growth without being too spreading or sprawling. 
Of minor consideration is the character of the foliage masses, 
whether dark or ight, heavy and somber or open and airy, and also 
whether they have vivid autumn colorings. Only in the most south- 
ern parts of the country and in western California should evergreen 
trees be considered for street planting, and then only the broad- 
leaved evergreens, such as magnolias and live oaks. In the North 
the lack of sunshine during the short cloudy days of winter makes it 
desirable to admit all the light possible. Even in the South the 
question of sunshine should be considered when selecting: varieties. 
