The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-24
Street Planting of Trees.
From Washington Star.


"a common mistake in street planting,
says Park Commissioner Saunders, is that
Of placing the trees too close together.
Those of the largest size-such as lindens,
elms, sycamores and silver maples-should
be forty-ive feet apart. Thirty-6ve feet
is quite close enough for any trees in a
street. This allows each tree room for
expansion and avoids the evils of too great
density of foliage aud total exclusion Of sun
rays-evils which are apt to develop into
nuisances, depriving dwellings of the sani-
tary influences of air and light Too much
shade is worse than none at all.
"Among the qualities required for a
street tree are compact stateliness and
symmetry of general form and outline, an
ample supply of foliage, of early spring
verdure, healthness, so far as being exempt
from disease and able to withstand the dis
advantages of plant life in the city, and,
finally, freedom from attacks of insects and
from fading flowers. An ideal street tree
should bear removal and transplanting
without much difficulty. 1t should be of
vigorous but not excessive growth. A
tree of very rapid growth is usually short
lived.
"It is hardly possible to select any one
tree which possesses all of these quali6ca
tions, but it is practicable to choose among
number of species which approach nearly
to such perfection. Among them l should
put first the silver maple, which is about
the best city tree to be found. It's easily
propagated and seeds sown in June will
furnish plants three or four feet iu height
the same season. They are easily trans
planted and their growth is rapid. They
are of upright habit unless thrown out Of
their normal shape by injudicious pruning,
which often happens.
"The sugar maple is the most beautiful
of all our naples, and, it may be said, one
of the finest of all trees. 1t is of a fine
symmetrical contour, and has at all times
stately gracefulness which is greatly en-
HANGED by its peculiarity Of supporting a
massive top ON a comparatively slender
stem. For beauty and density of foliage
from early spring to late summer, and for
the great variety of brilliant tlnts of the
ripened leaves of autumn, few trees can
equal it. The American linden is of
robust and lofty spreading growth. 1t is
we'll fitted for the establishment of wide
streets or avenues, where it can have ample
room. The tulip tree is also well adapted
for cities. Among its admired features are
the unique form of its leaves, their vivid
green in spring. their beautiful yellow col
oring in the autumn, aud the tulip-like
formation of its flowers.
The sycamore ranks among the trees Of
largest growth, Although in the rich
bottom lands, where it finds its natural
habitat, it appears as an uncouth and seem
ingly uncomfortable subject, yet it submits
admirably to manipulation by pruning.
Even large and old specimens may have all
their branches cut off close to the main
stem, and in few years they will show
perfect columns of verdure. The horse
chestnut is heavy fohaged and massive
tree, forming dense shade. 1t surpasses
most other trees in the beauty of its early
summer veFdure and in its superb clusters
Of flowers, which are succeeded by large
and conspicuous seed pods The lalter
point is not particularly to be favored in a
street tree, for it is found that, where
either flowers or seed vessels are very con-
spicuous, they are likely to be pulled at
and destroyed.
The "ginkgo" is an. interesting tree and
one well adapted to narrow streets. It is
pyramidal in growth and has never been
known to be injured by caterpillars or in.
sects of any kind. The odd formation of
its leaves and its peculiar Aeshy fruits are
of interest. The avenue leading up to the
main entrance of the Department of Agri-
culture runs between two lines of these
trees. Some of the oaks are well suited
for street trees. 1t is generally supposed
that oaks grow slowly, but the fact is that
many of them grow very rapidly.