Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-12-12
Exhaustive Effects of Tree Roots,

The distance to which certain tree roots
extend in cultivated grounds is q subject OF
some Importance, us, in many instances
where they have originally been planted
to provide shelter, or as screens to hide
unsightly objects, they eventually become
Il great source of injury and annoyance, on
account of the roots penetrating the
ground and robbing 1t of the food intended
for the use of culinary or other crops. The
amount of injury thus inflicted is especial.
ly apparent during seasons of drought.
and it is an evil not easily cured, as the re.
moval of the trees would, in some cases.
be considered greater loss than the in.
jury which they commit, SO that half meas
ures have in some cases to be resorted
to, such as cutting back as far as
us possible; but having once found a rich
feeding ground, this only causes them to
grow out hydra headed and increase with
ten-told vgor. The distance to which
certain tree roots run should be taken into
consideration when planting, for while the
roots OF many evergreens-the most ser
vceable rs shelter trees-do not extend
further from the base than the height of
the tree, others, especially those of the ash
and elm, extend in light soils double the
distance of their nights; if fruit trees
were such rapacious feeders, no profitable
cultivation could be carried on in their
vicinity. The custom of planting forest
trees in hedgerows affords an illustration
OF the folly OF attempting to grow one crop
over another, for there cannot possibly he
good hedge in connection with them. as
the trees naturally become masters of the
situation; and as to timber, whoever saw
hedgeroW timber century old, worth the
injury which 1t had done to surrounding
crops? Indeed, scarcely one per cent Of
trees planted in such positions ever attain
TIMBER size at all for hedgerows beno nlunt-
ed as rule on elevated banks, the trees per-
lsh before they have chance of BECOMING
established. A writer in an American pa,
per IN abiding TO pasturing apple or
chards, gives some sound advice on donble
groupings; he says; Try one crop and
pay attention to it, and you will have no
cause to complain of results;n in like man
ner, where cultivated lands are undermin-
ed with gross-feeding tree roots, the most
skillful cultivator will be unable 10 pro-
duce satisfactory crops.-J. Groom. Hen-
ham, IN London garden.
And pertaining to this matter we pre-.
sumo we shall be accounted " heatbon
man and a publican for what we have to
say, which is that we believe the injury to
the land, which is done by shade trees is
so great as to render the land practically
worthless for a distance of from one tn
three rods on each side according to their
size. Naples are especially exhaustive,
and all this fine talk and practice of tree
planting by the roadside, will work great
damage to the farmer, and furnish tbe
next generation with handy fire-wood. If
the farmer is public spirited enough to oive
three rods in width along the highway for
shade trees for the public, all RIGHT, and
we will thank him for our share of tbo
benefit-but it is luxury we cannot af-
ford, and have cut down row of NAPLES
on our farm and gained about three rods
width of productive land for the whole
distance. Set shade trees cautiously.