THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
367 
eralive not c'ompelitivc, and so I say the object of our as¬ 
sociation is to promote tlie nursery business. It is to 
give the oilier man the lienefit of our experience and in 
turn to learn his experience, and this is “why we are 
here.” All nurserymen should he here. If a man gets 
one new idea concerning the nursery Imsiness, it has 
jiaid him foi' his lime in coming luu’e. I never have yet 
attended om? of Ihmi* associations without feeling that I 
was more than lepaid for attending. 1 am glad I am here 
and am glad I am able to tell you 1 am here. 
SHADE TREES FOR THE SOUTH 
Head by H. C. Berckmans, at the Southern Nurserymen s Convention 
W HAT is a tree?—is a question often asked and 
not easily answered. The same species may 
assume a tree form or remain shrubby accord¬ 
ing to the climatic conditions, soil and other factors. 
Usually a tree is defined as a wood plant rising from 
the ground under normal conditions with a single stem, 
and attaining a height, say from ten to twelve feet. 
Trees are the most prominent feature of the vegetable 
world, and surpass all other organic beings in height and 
magnitude. As conspicuous, however, as they are, they 
represent only a small percentage as regards species. 
In the United States there are only about six hundred 
species. The farther south you go the greater the num- 
mental properties of the trees, their rate and mode of 
growth, and tludr reijuirements as to .soil, situation and 
climate. 
After the surface of tin; ground, the most permanent 
feature of the laiid.scape is the tree; the proper selection 
and location of a vaiiely that will bring about the most 
artistic effect, and tlu'ir liluess to the soil and climatic 
conditions; For mistakes made in this are not soon cor¬ 
rected, and larely without injury to the original design. 
The fimdam(Mifal purposes of trees in landscape gar¬ 
dening are to supply th(‘ great masses of foliage, which 
fi’ame and divide and partly constitute the views; to em- 
Memt>ers of the Southern Association on Siynal Mountain 
her of tree-like sj)ecies increase, and toward the Artie re¬ 
gions it decreases. 
The uses of trees are manifold, and a country from 
which its fore.sts have been destroyed, becomes almost 
uninhabitable and worthless to mankind. 
The forests furnish wood and timber; exercise bene¬ 
ficial influences on the climate and health; act as reg¬ 
ulators of the waterflow; iirevent erosion, and also the 
removal of soil by other agents. Resides all this, many 
trees yield other products of great economic value, and, 
especially the many fruit-bearing species. 
The aesthetic value of trees must not be underrated, 
though it cannot be counted in money. It is curious to 
note how little value or attention the average land owner 
or municipality will give to the tree. 
To the landscape architect a thorough knowledge of 
trees is absolutely essential. He should know the orna- 
phasize the elevations; to vary the sky line; to shut out 
unsightly objects; to intensify the beauty of buildings, 
and to furnish shade and shelter. 
The number of species suitable for street planting are 
not as nuitierous as we should imagine, and are limited 
by the necessarily heavy restrictions as to height, spread, 
sewer penetration and side-walk raising, imposed by 
munici|)al street de])artments. 
Many of the first objections can be overcome by proper 
pruning to a unifoi'in height at Irecjuent intervals. It is 
not wise to use trees of veiy rapid growth in town plant¬ 
ing. They soon become too large and require frequent 
trimming, which, in most cases, is mutilation, and they 
are most likely to interfere with sewerage. 
Unsatisfactory results in street planting so often met 
Continued on Page 373 
