PARK AND CEMETERY. 
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STREET TREE AND FORESTRY WORK IN CHICAGO 
REMOVING STONE FROM ROOTS AND TREES AND REFILLING 
WITH SOIL. 
The Special Park Commission of Chi- 
sago, a body that controls a number of 
small parks and playgrounds not under the 
jurisdiction of the three larger park bodies 
that control the larger pleasure grounds, 
in conjunction with the City Forester's 
office, has issued some valuable pamphlets 
on street tree planting that have been in- 
strumental in arousing sentiment for tree 
planting in this city. 
Pamphlet No. 6, from which we show a 
number of interesting illustrations, is a 
compendium of valuable information about 
city trees for the layman. 
It discusses and illustrates the destruc- 
tion of tree life; how, when and what to 
trim ; remedies applied to cuts ; examples 
of injurious trimming; tree surgery; what, 
when and how to plant; nursery grown vs. 
forest grown trees ; desirable form of 
young trees ; how to buy trees ; preparing 
the tree hole ; planting, cultivation of soil ; 
trees which are most desirable ; the best 
trees for street planting; how to make a 
lawn in the parkway ; insects, how to kill 
them, and many other practical matters that 
the city householder should know about 
trees. 
In regard to tree surgery the Bulletin 
says : 
“Tree surgery is a profession which has 
grown to considerable importance ; in this 
way sick and diseased trees are being re- 
stored to health. Briefly, tree surgery con- 
sists in cutting out the rotted parts of the 
trees and filling the cavities thus made with 
some substance which will make the cav- 
ity water and air tight. Most of these cav- 
ities on city trees are the result of im- 
proper trimming. A stub is left where a 
branch has been amputated. This stub, 
into which the living sap no longer flows, 
becomes saturated with moisture, rot 
spores become active — the stub soon rots 
off, leaving the beginning of a pocket or 
cavity which is gradually increased by the 
action of the rot spores and boring insects. 
Then the birds and squirrels begin to build 
their nests in these cavities and help to in- 
crease them until almost the entire center 
of the tree trunk has been destroyed. Un- 
less this rotting is stopped the strongest and 
most magnificent tree will be destroyed. 
“The proper way to proceed is to clean 
out the entire cavity, using a chisel or 
gouge to remove all the rotted wood. Then 
wash the interior of the cavity with a solu- 
tion of copper-sulphate made by dissolving 
in a wooden vessel one-fourth of a pound 
of copper-sulphate in ten gallons of water. 
The solution can be sprayed into the cavity 
by means of a small hand pump. This so- 
lution will kill all the remaining rot spore 
and the cavity is now ready to be filled with 
cement. The filling is made by using three 
parts of clean sharp sand to one part of 
cement. Fill cavity with this mortar and 
then bring the filling to a smooth water- 
tight finish, with a mortar made by using 
one part of sand to one part of cement. 
Where the cavity is large, iron rods are 
sometimes used to reinforce the cement. 
Where defects of this sort are remedied 
before they have spread to any considera- 
able extent to cure is simple and certain, 
and gradually the annual growth of the tree 
will cover the filling and conceal the patch 
of cement beneath the new bark ; but while 
many trees can be saved in this way, there 
are an equal number beyond redemption, 
and the best thing to do is to remove them 
and plant healthy young trees to take their 
place.” 
J. H. Prost, superintendent of the Spe- 
cial Park Commission and city forester, is 
in charge of the executive work of the 
commission, and recommends the following 
street trees for Chicago conditions : 
Those thoroughly tried : American elm, 
Norway maple, honey locust, hackberry, 
Carolina poplar, hard maple, white ash, 
American linden, catalpa, ailanthus. 
Those tried and found questionable : Eu- 
ropean sycamore, red oak, pin oak, ginkgo, 
American sycamore. 
Trees which are best for sections where 
the soil and atmosphere are poor : Caro- 
lina poplars, ailanthus, catalpa, certinensis 
poplars. 
Trees which should not be planted at all 
in the streets : Cottonwoods, willows, box 
elders. 
RENOURISHING TREES. 
