Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1889-05-23
Our Shade Trees
NJ. EnHoi

Mr. Editor
In behalf of public improvement win
you please insert this article in your pa
per; it may have some influence In Undue
ing our citizens to protect our beautiful
shade trees and If so the object of the
writer is attained.
Three weeks since we called the atten-
ton OF our citizens to the danger of inju-
~ to our shade trees from the electric light
and telephone wires that have been attach
ed to them. Since that we have heard
from a gentleman residing in Boston hav-
ing experience in the matter who writes
1t is a well known fact here that electric
light and telephone wires will destroy
trees and have no doubt but the telegraph
wires would he equally injurious In
view of this testimony. would it not be
well for our city authorities to have all the
wires removed from the trees within our
city limtsf and if the Public Improvement
Society have no authority to act, surely
some enc has the power TO protect our
shade trees Should those trees that form
an arch over Main street to the American
House be destroyed. there Is not person
living OF mature years that will ever see
them replaced. They were planted more
than sixty years ago and ii would be almost
SaCriege to have them destroyed. our
city could better afford to furnish electric
light telegraph and telephone poles than
10 rob Us of what cannot be replaced.
The vandalism that unchecked DESTROYED
that beautiful elm at the corner Of Main
and High streets should be condemned by
every citizen who cares for the reputation
Of our city The elm that shades the en-
trance to the Unitarian church has not
only an in>ulator attached TO IL, but a wire
has been put round it which is used as
stay for the electric pole on the corner Of
oak street II that wire j. to remain
there il should have something put be
tween il and the tree t. prevent 1t from
cutting into the bark aud SO .ir,iling the
tree. and If this j. done We do not think
the stay would injure the tree, but A.
member OF the | uitarian society we pro
test against having an electric. telephone
or telegraph wire attached 10 the tree, and
We call the attention OF the member, of
that society 70 this matter.
A. an cN-membcr Of the Public Improve
ment Society we are interested in their
work and are glad to bear testimony 10
the service they have rendered the city in
causing the removal Of many nu>anccs
hut when in ordering a lot Of trees we
hear directions given. to bring good tops
we know they are making a mistake.
The large roots hold the tree firmly IN the
ground. hut the small tlbrouS roots noUr-
l>h the tree and in tran>planting nearly all
the large roots can be saved but generally
a large proportion OF the delicate ibrous
root, are destroyed II the tree i deprived
of this mcau> of nouri>hmcnt aud SIN has
a large top 10 support, how can it live: If
Il was very healthy tree it may struggle
for few years to live ana al last throw
ont roots enough - sustain It bat 1t " Ill
never D. vigorous. To insure vigorous
growth the top must Ice cut down just IN
proportion a. the roots are destroyed; bet
ter have ahuujauc. Of SNAIL roots and no
top and if the Tree J. healthy and properly
SET out. it VIII not die, and will alway
have vigorous growth because the supply
Of nouri>hmen, j. greater than the demand.