, 1877-07-08


it's mother twig This Is not exactly the thing
for u city ornament
THE FOREST ELM
appears to bc about the only trce that is worth
considering in the light OF an outside shade tree
FOR Chicago. The elm is long-liyetl, and when
once its roots are firmly established in the
ground, II it is we'll watcred and taken care Of it
Will endure through two or three generations
Alter q close observance Of trees aud their na-
turc, Mcssrs. Guthrie and Libby have decided
that the elm, though requiring considerable at
tent1on IN transplanting, is the best species that
can be found to thrive i'll these parts. Taking
all its qualifications into considcratiou,-its
symmetry OF proportions, its ample foliage its
this will commend itself to the favor OF most
people. though it WAS painfully evident
during the ride yesterday that while
thousands of dollars had been spent in trans
planting trees OF this description, not one man
in hundred knows how to take care OF them
and Keep them growing.
1t was noticed that where the top was left in
tact, in nearly every, case the uppermost
branches we're dead or dying, as could easily be
noted By the pale, yellow leaves standing out
6urnfully against the light Of the SKY like the
premature gray hairs OF early manhood. Tic
companion OF the reporter said this was tho
effect Of not cutting the tops back to corrc-
spond with the roots Of the tree when it was
transplautcd. owing, no doubt, to an avariccus
desire on the part Of the purchaser to ob-
tain Us tall a tree as possible for his
money He said he would recommend that tue
tree be cut at its lower branches. before trans
planting, leaving three or four Of the larger
limbs and rounding the top Off into a stub so
as TO form graceful top to the future shade
tree. The ends OF the limbs he wanted covered
with scaling-waS 80 that they would not die ut
the tops, and then the leaves would soon cover
up the unsiPlltly stubs.
The ride was continued along the different
avenues to Grand Boulevard and Cottage
Grove, and through portion OF South 1Ark.
Many kinds Of trees and shrubs were noted, i'll
Guiding the handsome box-clder, an occasional
sycamore, with u trunk spotted, like the skin
of u rattlesnakc, horse-ehestnnt, OF buckeye,
sumacl, mountain ash, with berries that will be
scarlet in the autumn, buttcFnut, 5lackwalnut
tthc latter with clusters OF green nuts tlng'i,9
to the stems as the bougfs bent in tho brcezcs).
Then there was thu graceful little white birch,
with its delicate foliage cnycloping it like tho
tas tcful drapery Of Greek maiden, and look
inc SO ehastc and beautiful that the passers-by
were constrained to pause and admire. An i'll
tcrcsting account OF each Of these specimens Of
yard sfrubbcry nigh: be given, bat space for
bids, this article is intended merely to give
the readers of The TRIBUNE some sort Of an
idea as to what trrcs are hest for shade, the
most approved nlofic OF treating them, and the
size at which they may safely be traEspantcd
"Next 10 the elm said Mr.. Guthrie, III
would prefer
THE WHITE ASH.
You sec the foliage is i rich dark green, which
kinds. But the ash is not SO successful as Il
sllaie tree, and it takes years anu years for it to
arrive at anything like perfection. Still, the
ash ti,rives very we'll in tlis region, you
made to answer the purpose, but you would
want large trees to start with, as is also true of
the sln':' .,, ;, - ,,.;.o, 49, ~ .o,,uo, IL,
horses up at the corncr of Michigan avenue anu
Th,rty~tourth street, II will show you sonc
fIllc3TD
Tor
THnIFTINEss AND BEAUTY.
Look at those.' The reporter glanced at row
OF thirteen elm trees, extending from Mr..
side Of Mr.. Libby's: but, verify, no sucll trees
had been witnessed during the ride. Hitherto
dead trees and dead branches had ,narred the
beauty Of everything III this line On the aver
age, not more than onc~iourth Of the trees
looked upon for the past three or four hours
had been alive and thrifty. Even the native
oaks, which stood around Cottage Grove, the
University, and in Aldirc square, were dead or
dying. The march Of civilization had apparently
broken tic hearts OF these monarchs Of the
forest like those Of the Indian and the buffalo,
though, unlike them. these sturdy giants were
unable to flee to the westward, but were com
peeled to stand in their tracks where they had
stood for decades, hang their noble heads, aud
die Of modification.
But those foreign shade trees, brought there
By the hand Of man, appeared to be unconscious
that they were usurpng their place, and they
lowered a1oft in their majesty as though they
were standing upon their native heath, instead
OF beinc.ou an adopted footing. These clms
were about fifty feet i'll height, about sixteen
inches in diameter, and Of uniform ap-
pcarauce throughout. The tops were cut back
and not stay or wire was visible Hot one OIL
them was wound with 1ay-rope, and not as
mucb rs twig was broken Or dead upon any
OF them. Mr.. Guthrie looked proudly ut them,
as much upon his neighbors' as upon his own.
He was asked By the neTspaper-'nan to give all
account OF
which hc oblfgingay did as follows:
years ago last November. We went to 4 nur-
them rs nearly as possible alike. We took the
thirteen, and got them slightly under
price They cost us $500 set out, aud
We wouldn't take $1,000 for" them
to-day. Ne had them brought to us one at Z
time, and had the roots taken up and the bowl
formed to suit ourselves We did not pay
much attention to the guarantee, for We had
our own ideas as to treatment. The narseryman
cnjoiaed us repeatedly not to water them
not quite agree with him. We hlazcd each tree
upon the north side. and set them out in ex-
actly the same position. do not know that
this makes any difference. but it is at least nat
ural, and can do no harm. AesoFalns &c 10 ny ~
habits than most people give it credit Tor,
We did not care SO much to have enormous tall
trees rs VIC did for good shade top, so we cut
them back to about tiltv fcet, and you sce tney
arc plenty tail enough"
ss But, how did you manage about setting
them out!'' inquired the listener.
6 That's lust what was about to tell you"
rcplied Mr. Guthrie. Is We first dug hole four
teen feet square, BY tivc feet deep, and ,nade IT.
bowl-st,apcd at the bottom. Iaen we lined It
with six INCHES OF blue clay at tho bottom, so
that hat it would hold water. Nc put in eighteen
inches Of very rich soil; the three had a
bowl of about seven feet ia dameter,L,
that is OF roots and earth,-and
three feet thick. We left receptacle for water
upon the surface at tho base Of the tree which,
would hold about barrel. We cut channel
IRON this sort OF basin SO as to be sure not 70
have any water standing there in the winter, as
ice and water arc very injurious. II not intal,
to the roots in cold weather. We rave ieF- M
ta1ized them somewhat since, using biooa-'e!-
tiiiscr and this must be applied sparinelt, tor'
is ycry powerful, We have also cultivated tue