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EASTERN SHADE TREE CONFERENCE 
HURRICANE DAMAGE IN HARTFORD AND BETTER 
TREES FOR STREET AND ORNAMENTAL PLANTING 
By George H. Hollister, Superintendent of Parks , Hartford , Conn. 
On my return to Hartford two days after the hurricane and viewing 
the damage, I was convinced that no one tree species proved to be better 
than another in standing up against the tremendous force of the wind 
during the storm. 
It is true that in some places particular varieties seemed to fall while 
others did not and yet a short distance away all species were blown over. 
This convinces me, that the wind was very gusty at times, so that where 
it hit with greatest force, all species of trees fell and where there was a 
lesser force only certain varieties went down. 
I am also convinced that had there been a normal, instead of an over¬ 
abundance of rainfall during the summer, and also had there not been an 
almost unprecedented amount during the four days preceding the blow, a 
great many (possibly 50%) of the uprooted shade trees would not have 
fallen. 
The fact that the ground was saturated with water to the extent of 
being soggy made it possible for the trees in falling to literally pull their 
roots many feet through the soil and for this reason the shade trees fell 
very slowly. 
The storm coming from the east, many trees on the west side of north 
and south streets were blown over while those on the opposite side stood 
up. This was caused by the cutting of roots in laying curbs or to lack 
of root development next to the street—the side on which the wind 
struck. This same destruction took place on highway embankments 
where the weakest root development was on the side from which the 
storm came. 
As for Better Trees for Street and Ornamental Planting we already have 
as fine a group of different species of trees as is to be found anywhere 
except where the flora of the north and south meet. 
Despite all of the enemies of the American elm, it still stands at the 
head of my list of street trees and also as an ornamental tree. 
Among other desirable street trees are: 
Norway Maple. Acer platanoides 
Red Maple. Acer rubrum 
Sugar Maple. Acer saccharum 
White Ash?. Fraxinus americana 
Maidenhair Tree. Ginkgo biloba 
Tulip Tree?. Liriodendron tulipifera 
