The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-10-31
SCHOOL GROUNDS.
How They Can BE Made Attractive by tho
Planting of Trees.

terror, Bureau of Education, for in
formation respecting tree planting and
the celebration of Arbor Day, Commits
sioner Eaton has had prepared pam
phlet on these subjects for general
d stribution. This pamphlet includes a
paper by DR.. F. b. Hough, Chief of the
Forestry Division in the Department of
Agriculture, on planting trees in school
grounds. Following are in brief some
of the suggestions and statements made
by DR.. Hough:
To insure success in starting groves
of trees it is advised to select from
nursery plantat ons or where trees have
sprung up in open places, such as the
there may be an abundance of the
small tibrous roots. The precaut ons
usually taken in transplanting trees are,
of course, to be observed.
As a school room needs an abun-
dance of fresh air and Light, the trees
planted on the school grounds should
therefore stand far enough away to al
low free circulation Of the air. As a
general rule, even in the smallest
grounds, a row of tree, may be planted
IN the street six to eight feet from the
fence line, but always protected by
guards and hitch ng posts to prevent
the trees being injured by horses, etc.
In small lots the corners only CHIT
admit of further planting, but VITA
wider opportunity fine effects may be
gained from the grouping of trees, and
upon still more extended premises,
such as surround colleges and acade-
mics, the cultivation OF trees may be
attempted in considerable var ETY., with
a view of securing pleasing combna-
ton of views and object lessons in slvi-
culture. If there be out buildings.
these should be screened, and if there
be an adjoining marshy spot, it ought
to be covered with trees or bushes
suited to the conditions.
When practicable, get the co-opera-
ton of the owners of adjoining lands,
or others who are willing to assist in
planting the roadsides leading to the
school house with an avenue of trees.
1t is we'll to interest the scholars IN
these operations, and when certain
trees have been assigned to particular
scholars or to little committees to whom
their protect on is entrusted. the inter-
est thus secured has resulted in happy
effects.
The intervals between the trees
planted in lines, must be divided by
their kinds, the soil and other circum-
stances. From fifteen to twenty feet
will generally be found the proper
interval but in case of trees with wide
spreading tops tn rty feet should be
allowed. DIR. Hough condemns a prac-
tee that has been followed in certa II
irrigated districts in the far West,
where poles of cottonwood, without
root or branch, have been set along
streets and have grown to become
trees. While these poles have become
trees. the trees are short-lived. The
reason is obvious; for the branches are
put forth at some distance below the
top, VIII Oh dries up and rots off, leaving
a hole open to the rain. The lower
. end gives off roots around the edges
and sides, but the middle part soon rots
from the absorption of water until a
hollow space is formed from one end to
the other. A small tree would outgrow
such a pole in few years and survive
half century after it was dead and
forgotten.
In regard to the kind of trees to
plant, it is advised as a rule to select,
especially for small grounds, the spec es
that grow naturally in the region about
and which Will prove most hardy and
certain when trau>plantcd. The dec dI-
Gus species would usually have the
preference, except upon grounds Of
ample size, in which groups and masses
of evergreen trees might appear to fine
advantage among those that shed the r
leaves in autumn. There is one con-
dition, however, in which screen Of
evergreens would be very proper, viz,
for the cOncealment of outhouses and
other unsightly premises. For this use
the arbOrvitp, Norway spruce, or red
cedar in the North or the vines with
evergreen leaves in the South, would be
most appropriate.
In selecting trees regard should be
had to their Liability to injury from ac-
cldent, their tendency to sprout where
not wanted, the odors they emit, Their
longevity, rate of growth, etc. The
American elm (GlntUS -LnlerIcGn0) is
perhaps least liable to accident from a
Druise upon the bark and there are few
of any trees to be more generally pre-
ferred The red or 81 ppery elm, liable
to be peeled by unruly boys is admired
only on private grounds. The sugar
maple in many localities has first
place on the list, but as one goes further
West its growth becomes less slow.
The box elder or ashleavcd maple af-
ford favorite shade trees in the Western
States, and grow well in the middle
ATTITUDES of the Atlantic States, but do
not endure a cold climate. The poplar
and the cottOnwoods grow rapidly and
some of them can be made to thrive when
other trees fail. The beach, birch,
catalpa, oak, linden, hickory, walnut,
| locust. chestnut, ash and other trees
afford advantages more or less worthy
of notice in the Northern States and
there is wide range of choice among
the native species of the Southern and
Pacific States.
In wet places the willows, alders,
American larch, black ash and some of
the oaks find an appropr ate place, and
the gray willow is especially commended
as valuable for a wind break in the
Northwest, where a screen of this kind
around a school yard would prove a
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