would ultimately greatly benefit by the re- 
sults of the operation of this policy, but it 
would require an assertion of dominance 
by the city authorities over the will of the 
people which, in my opinion, is to be depre- 
cated. However, several large cities are at 
this time doing this very thing with good 
results. 
A far better method to pursue is to cause 
young trees of a suitable variety to be 
planted between the poplars already grow- 
ing, trimming the low branches of the pop- 
lars if necessary, or even removing a tree 
entirely where they are too closely planted 
to allow of the planting of a young tree. 
For the next few years, while the young 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
trees are growing, an educative scheme of 
teaching the value of shade trees could be 
inaugurated, and by the time the young 
trees have a good growth the property 
owners would gladly concur in the removal 
of the old poplars. The pursuing of this 
policy would produce wonderful results, as 
the lesson of undesirable trees and why 
they are undesirable, versus desirable va- 
rieties of trees and why the}'- are desirable, 
taught by living examples as well as by 
personal argument, would instill into the 
minds of the people, clearly and concisely, 
the more or less technical points whereby 
one variety is suitable and another is not. 
One other separate method of proceed 
209 
ure remains, and that is of so trimming 
the poplars as to lessen their bad effects 
and to prolong their usefulness. There 
are many variations of opinion among tree 
men as to the advisability of trimming pop- 
lars and also as to how the trimming shall 
be done. I believe that if the poplars are 
allowed to remain on the streets they 
should be severely cut back as soon as they 
are over eight inches in diameter. This, I 
have found, entirely removes the danger 
of the blowing off of large branches during 
high wind storms as well as the blowing 
over of the entire tree. It’ also results in 
larger leaves and less of them, and they 
stick on much longer in the summer sea- 
son. It changes the growing of the tree 
from an open head to a close-growing head. 
In short, it changes a very unsightly tree 
into an ornament and to a large extent in- 
creases its usefulness. Such trimming is, 
however, a very costly proposition for any 
city, as it is slow, exact work and must be 
continued year after j'ear on each tree or 
the tree will soon revert back to its orig- 
inal condition. A proper trimming of oaks, 
elms, maples and such trees will be suf- 
ficient treatment for many years, hence the 
cost of such trimming is comparatively 
slight. 
A combination of the three methods just 
mentioned would perhaps produce the best 
results. Remove them where possible with- 
out antagonizing the citizens, on other 
streets planting 1 new trees between the old 
trees preferably inside the sidewalk if the 
EARLY FALL OP LEAVES FROM CAROLINA POPLAR; PICTURE 
TAKEN AUGUST 2. 
POPLAR ROOT 29 FEET LONG; IT ENTERED SEWER FIFTEEN FEET FROM THE TREE. 
