46 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
SELECTION OF TREES FOR STREET PLANTING 
The American Forestry Association in 
one of its recent bulletins gives an interest- 
ing summary on the selection of trees for 
street and boulevard planting that has many 
suggestions of value to tree planters. 
The selection of species is a matter of 
primary importance in shade tree planting. 
In deciding this point the climatic and soil 
conditions and the location of the tree or 
the purpose for which it is desired must 
be considered. In the past the tendency 
has been to plant quick-growing trees for 
immediate effect, regardless of their quali- 
fications. The results invariably have been 
highly unsatisfactory. In the lists given 
below are enumerated trees suitable for 
various purposes and planting sites. The 
trees printed in italics are those which are 
most desirable. 
STREET TREES FOR PLANTING UNDER 
SEVERE CONDITIONS. 
Oriental Sycamore. — Hardiest of all for 
street planting; not liable to insects; rapid 
growth. Deep rooted, adapted to a great 
\ariety of soils. Will require pruning on 
narrow street, but stands pruning well. 
Should be planted from 40 feet apart in 
poor soil to 50 feet in the more favorable 
sites. 
Norveay Maple. — Very hardy, adapted to 
a variety of soils ; has a regular compact 
crown; casts dense shade; requires little 
pruning. Plant 35 to 40 feet apart. 
Red Oak, Pin Oak, Scarlet Oak. — Best 
oaks for street purposes ; hardy, medium 
growth ; moderate shade ; fairly free from 
insects ; should be spaced 40 to 50 feet 
apart. Red oak is the fastest growing oak, 
has a wide-spreading crown, and is least 
fastidious in regard to soil and moisture. 
Scarlet oak has brilliant and persistent fo- 
liage in autumn. Pin oak has a rather 
narrow, pyramidal head, and is best adapt- 
ed to moist soil. It grows slowly at first, 
but makes a good growth when well estab- 
lished. Oaks do not stand pruning well, 
and branches should be cut off at the trunk. 
Because pin oak branches droop more than 
other oaks, the branches must be pruned 
off far up the trunk to prevent interference 
with street traffic. 
Gingko or Maidenhair Tree. — Hardy; 
adapted to poor soils ; casts light shade ; 
free from enemies of all kinds. Suited to 
narrow streets, but the head can be broad- 
ened by proper pruning. The fruit is ob- 
jectionable, but only for a short time. 
Spacing about 30 feet. 
Honey Locust. — Stands smoke well ; 
adapted to almost any soil. Casts very light 
shade; good growth ; fairly free from 
enemies. Should be planted sparingly. 
Spacing about 40 feet. 
Ailanthus. — Young trees vigorous, of 
good appearance, but later become un- 
sightly. Adapted to the most adverse con- 
ditions. Thrives in very smoky atmosphere 
and in poor soil. Male tree has obnoxious 
odor, so only female form should be planted. 
Sprouts freely from roots, but these can be 
controlled by cutting back. Should not be 
considered where other trees will grow. 
Spacing about 30 feet. 
STREET TREES FOR PLANTING UNDER 
FAVORABLE CONDITIONS 
American Elm. — A graceful tree, attract- 
ive in summer and winter. Tall and stately, 
w’ith strong arching branches. Grows rap- 
idly in rich, well-drained, moist soil, but 
adapted to many soils. Should be planted 
only on wdde avenues, 40 to 60 feet apart, 
according to soil conditions, usually about 
50 feet. Very liable to attack by the elm- 
leaf beetle. The English elm is smaller, 
more compact, not as graceful as the 
American elm, and more subject to in.sect 
attack. 
Sugar Maple.— Very hardy, but exacting 
in soil and moisture, and is sensitive to 
dust and smoke. Rounded symmetrical 
head, foliage colors brilliantly in autumn. 
Plant 40 to 45 feet apart. 
European Li)iden. — Well formed, round- 
ed head, with dense, beautiful foliage ; 
grow’s quite rapidly, but requires good 
moist soil, and is very liable to insect at- 
tack. Should be spaced about 35 feet. The 
basswood or American Linden has larger 
leaves and is less valuable for street plant- 
ing than the European species. 
Tulip Tree. — Tall, very regular form ; 
requires good soil. Hard to transplant on 
account of tender roots; best results if 
young trees are planted. Subject to scale 
and other enemies. On account of its great 
size, should be planted only on very wide 
streets and in sulnirban sections. Spacing 
45 to 60 feet. 
Red Maple.— Adapted to good moist soil, 
moderate growth, dense shade; fairly free 
from insects. Eine coloring in spring and 
fall. Space trees 35 to 40 feet apart. 
Szoeet Gum.— Best suited to very moist, 
rich soil. Bias compact form, beautiful fo- 
liage, especially in fall. Very free from 
insects. Spacing about 35 feet. 
White Ash. — Fairly rapid growth, hardy, 
suited to many soils. Grow's straight and 
forms a round, symmetrical top. Leaves 
compound, and foliage in pleasing, irregu- 
lar masses. Few enemies. Spacing about 
40 feet. 
Hackberry. — Aledium sized, symmetrical 
tree; not exacting as to soil, moisture or 
climate. Slow growth, but fairly free from 
pests and diseases. Spacing about 30 feet. 
OBJECTIONABLE SPECIES FOR STREET 
PLANTING. 
All Poplars (Cottomvood, Carolina Pop- 
lar. White Poplar, Lombardy Poplar, etc.) 
— Very rapid growth and require constant 
cutting back. Wood soft, brittle, and 
limbs or tops frequently broken in storms. 
Surface roots raise flagstones and crack 
concrete walks, and the thick trunks push 
curbstones out of line. Fine rootlets clog 
drains ; leaves fall during summer. Short- 
lived. Seed of female cottonwood objec- 
tionable. 
Silver Maple. — Grows rapidly, but is 
short-lived, and has brittle, weak branches 
which break easily in storms. It is hard to 
prune and is affected by serious insect 
pests and fungus diseases. 
Sycamore Maple. — Resembles the Nor- 
way maple in habit of growth, but less de- 
sirable, and is subject to borers. 
Box Elder. — Grows rapidly and under 
adverse conditions, but has a scraggy 
crown ; branches easily broken, and twigs 
die readily. It is badly infested by insects, 
and the leaves start falling in summer. 
Male Ailanthus. — The staminate or male 
flowers of the Ailanthus produce a strong 
and highly disagreeable odor. This can be 
avoided by planting the female form of the 
tree. 
Catalpa — Common catalpa forms a short, 
crooked trunk, and an irregular head. Not 
at all suited for street planting. 
Hardy Catalpa is straight and with a 
well-formed crown, but requires good soil. 
Both species subject to enemies and are 
better as ornamental trees. 
Horse Chestnut. — Leaves discolor, shrivel 
and fall in early summer. Subject to at- 
tacks of many insects and fungi. 
The Conifers. — Are highly decorative for 
lawns and parks, but they cannot stand a 
smoky, dusty atmosphere, and the removal 
of the lower branches disfigures the trees. 
FOR OTHER THAN STREET PLANTING. 
For private grounds and parks. — A great 
variety of trees may be used. Any tree 
native to the region or to regions of sim- 
ilar climate wall grow if soil and moisture 
conditions are similar or if made equal by 
a change of soil. The species should be 
selected for its adaptability to existing soil 
and moisture conditions, and for its suit- 
ability, when full-grown, to the particular 
purpose for which it is desired — orna- 
ment, shade, protection, screen, etc. Time 
is well spent in observing the growth of 
the native and planted trees of the region. 
Roadside trees. — All of the trees listed 
for street planting and many of those 
named for private grounds may be used. 
The selection of species and the spacing 
should be governed by the soil and local 
conditions, but care should be taken that 
the shading of roadway and adjoining 
property will not be detrimental. 
GENERAL INFORMATION. 
Trees preferring wet soil. — Pin oak. 
Bald cypress. Oriental sycamore. Swamp 
white oak. Willow oak. Sweet gum. Red 
maple. White birch. Black ash. Tamarack, 
Willows and Poplars. 
Tall trees with large, spreading crowns. 
— American elm. Tulip tree. Red oak. 
