Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-21
THE CITY'S SHADE TREES.
SOME OF THE CAUSES OF THEIR
RAPID DYING.

| The Results of an investigation by the
City AuthOrities-A More Extensive
and Systematic Plan for Planting
Trees Recommend ed-The Different
Kinds of Trees and Their Adsptabiiity
to Different Localities.
The rapid dying of shade trees in the
streets and squares during the past few
years has been the subject of more or less
investigation by individuals, but until
recently there has Leen no official inquiry
as to its cause and remedy. At the June
meeting of City Council the street and
Lane Committee was asked to submit
report uDOn tree culture, with such rec
concentrations as may be of value to the
city.
Alderman Thomas. Chairman Of the
Street and Lane Committee, gave the
matter his personal attention. A num-
Der OF citizens and experts were invited
to give their views upon the three points
set forth, viz:
!. The cause or causes Of trees dying.
2. The remedy or remedies for the same.
3. A more extensive and systematic
plan tor planting trees.
The committee received full and COM
prehensiye replies, and last night submit
The main as follows:
That improper planting, careless trim
ming, neglect of the wounds caused by
the cutting OF branches, want of sus-
tanning power and absence OF nutrment
and moisture in the soil, because of
thorough drainage by sewers are the
principal causes OF trees dying.
"Ihe destruction of the pine trees is
largely attributed to the rayages of beetles
and worms.
The remedies suggested are: The appli-
cation OF mixture OF Kerosene oil to the
bark OF pine trees, systematic attention
by an expert, including the fer
| tiliZing of trees with inodOrous
chemical fertilizers, watering during
dry PERIODS, the prompt removal
OF dead and dying trees, removal of mis-
tletoe and careful pruning with suitable
tools and covering the wounds with tar.
tits advised that for places where, from
damage by sewers, the soil is kept very
dry, that the trees will be more thrifty if
taken from nurseries rather than from the
swamps. Many varieties of trees are
recommended, especially deciduous tor
the streets, and declduOus and evergreen
Tor the parks and squares. Uniformity
for each street and variety for each
square are suggested. The deciduOus
trees recommended for streets are:
The elm III different varieties, beauti-
full, quick growing trees having large
roots, but their brittle limbs are frequent
ly broken during storms. The sycamore,
handsome i'll summer but unsiEhtY in
autumn, grows very rapidly and tall. The
white mulberry affords perfect shade by
it's beautiful foliage, but its far reaching
roots are Objectionable. The linden is
greatly admired, butts OF very slow growth.
| The pride OF India is pretty and rapid
grower, but is short lived. The sweet gum
is beautiful ana thrifty tree. The ITEM
bling poplar, cypress, poplar, white oak,
scarlet and red oaks, tulip, ash, sweet
locust, beech, varnsh, catalpa, birch and
| maple are recommended. the magnoliaS
are well known and appreciated, although,
being eyergreens, they would Of not
planted too near each Other) add to the
attractions of Bull street.
"FOr the parks and squares are recon-
mended live oaks, m8gnoltas, bay will
lows, red bud, iron wood, dOgwOOd, be-
sides most of the varieties proposed for
the streets.
''The committee was advised to dis
courage the use of the atlantis
as prolific source of malaria.
The judiciOus planting and intelligent
care of trees contribute greatly to the
comfort and pleasure of residents and
visitors as well as to the adOrnment OF the
city, and the clty's growth, prosperity and
adornment should 90 hand in hand.
''ln some cities the beautiful custom pre-
walls of celebrating a stated day of each
year by the general planting of trees,
and why should we not designate the last
Wednesday OF November to be thus OBJ
served so far as concerns the streets?
"The sooner trees are planted after
heavy frost the better, as they should
have time to take root before the season
| tor putting forth leaves arrives. Care
| should be taken to select the proper size
and shaped trees, with long, live roots.
They should be carefully handled and
| promptly replanted in freshly dug holes,
| large enough for the roots to spread out
| in, those bruised being neatly trimmed.
"Planting trees too near each other or to
| buildings, supplying dampness and mos
! quitoes, is neither pleasing nor comf0rta-
| bic. nor prOmOtive of good to the tree.
! They should soften the glare without in
| terlacing each other and keeping the air
| and sunshine from our homes. Forty
| feet apart is near enough to plant most
trees. Business thoroughfares and narrow
| streets are better without trees and on
! such one tree to each lot should suffice.
Hereafter but one kind of tree should be
| planted on each street, the kind and their
| exact location 10 be fixed by the city,"
I