PARK AND CE-METE-RY 
43 
STREET TREES.— I, 
Aesthetics and sanitation are the dominant mo- 
tives in planting- trees on the streets of cities. A 
city is essentially an artificial creation. Except where 
natural surroundings dictate otherwise, where the 
general scheme forbids it or suggests a'liother treat- 
ment, where the architecture of the buildings are not 
specially adapted to it, the trees in a city whose 
streets are laid out rectangularly should be planted 
in strict accordance with formality. Concerted 
action of private citizens is rare and seldom results 
in adopting and following a policy tending toward 
the best interests of the community at large. It is 
no rare occurrence for one owner to plant one sort 
of tree in the street abutting his property and his 
neighbor to plant another sort attaining a different 
size and form. The frequency of such plantations 
argues for municipal direction of the affairs of street 
trees, if the greatest possible civic beauty as it relates^ 
to trees is to be attained. 
struction of roads and sidewalks ; the locations of 
sewers, gas and steam mains and electric conduits ; 
the kinds and character of soils ; soil analyses ; subter- 
ranean water tables and flow; exposures and other 
matters of local importance. The local flora should 
be studied and data collected as to the trees best 
adapted for special purposes in particular circum- 
stances. With this preliminary information accu- 
rately recorded the particular exigency of a case may 
be considered. 
In deciding upon a scheme of planting due con- 
sideration should be given to really meritorious and 
beautiful features of street termini. The termini of 
some streets are marked by an imposing building, by 
being the vorte.x of several streets; by a monument 
or otherwise. If it is a large naturalistic park, for ex- 
ample, the plantations on the main routes of travel to 
and from the entrances may be partly governed by 
the scenery of the park. Along these routes the 
plantations might be made most effective if designed 
as a part of a general scheme rather than as a whole 
EI,M. GINKGO. LINDEN. 
SHOWING GENERAL OUTLINE, POSITION AND DENSITY OF BRANCHES. 
Assuming a city to vest in one person or body the 
power to protect, care for and increase the number 
of trees within its limits — what, it may be asked, 
might be some of the duties of such an official 
or body. Aside from legal and political aspects these 
would in part be to become critically familiar with 
the class of buildings along each street — i. e., whether 
commercial, residential or other; the jiredomi- 
nating style of architecture; the materials of con- 
struction and their colors and peculiarities; the 
width of highways, paths and planting spaces; the 
grades of streets, where fills and where cuts have been 
made ; existing and official profiles of streets ; legal 
and adopted building limits ; the materials and con- 
in itself. Their quality of quiet restfulness may be 
made tbeir most important factor. Their power of 
unifying a scene by subduing or screening architec- 
tural vulgarities may be made to serve in its best 
office. The scene may sometimes be emphasized very 
largely by reason of the jilanting on the secondary 
streets. Such subsidiary jilanting should be done as 
part of a comprehensive scheme. 
From an aesthetic point of view trees may orna- 
ment the highways, buildings and their accessories by 
creating in combination with the structural edifices 
a scene of dignity and individuality. Trees gain in 
effect and value when their forms, textures and colors 
unite harmoniously or contrast sharply with their 
