The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-11-23

to. may save money and much disap-
pointment to those intent on beautitY-
ing their homes and public streets by
planting shade and ornamental trees
This noble ambition has often been
discouraged by the failure Of we'll in
tentioned efforts to make trees grow in
oppositi0n TO the laws Of nature.
Trees which can only live and thrive
in deep rich soil, have been planted i'll
almost solid rock or simple gravel,
have refused to grow, and the planter
has attributed his failure to "bad
luck,n and not to his own ignorance.
But the commonest cause of the failure
of shade trees to grow after being
transplanted, is, that they are improp
erly planted, are too large, and their
roots out of proportion to trunk and
limbs.
To the great majority of city dwell
lers, "a tree is a tree" and as shade
trees ale desired, the first tree peddler
from the backwoods that chances to
come along, finds waiting customers,
ready to buy anything. he is willing to
sell at their price, without regard TO
ire character or adaptability to their
soil or location.
Most buyers of trees, for shade,
nrefer and select those with the
thickest trunks and widest spreading
branches. probably with the belief
that they will the sooner make large
and shapely trees, but without a
Thought about roots. Knowing the
demands of his customers aud wishing
the most profit possible on his enter
prise the backwoods tree merchant
selects and handles his stock to pro-
duce the desired result. He selects
we'll grown and we'll branched trees
and pays little or no attention to
roots. but hacks them off az the point
most convenient to himself. The un-
thinking purchaser proceeds to plant
his trees. generally in holes about
large enough for a fence-post, ana al
most invariably without trlmmin
the mutilated roots or cutting back
the excess of top; fills in any rocks OF
rubbish next the illtreated roots
mops the perspiration from his un
thinking brain box, and serenely
awaits results, conscious of having
done his duty
There are fashions in shade trees az
in dress wear and millinery, and the
devotees Of fashion pride themselve'
on knowing just the kind of tree they
want, and won't buy one bearing any
other name. In this section the rack
berry is the mode" 1t is true tina
under favorable conditions ant
treatment it makes q beautiful ant
long lived tree, but when these con
ditiOns do not prevail, l
refuses to grow, or at beS
makes q weak effort ant
puts forth few struggling, scragg,
branches, whose only mission seems t
be to reproach their owner with hi
lack of judgment in planting the pa
rent tree, Space will not permit
lengthy discussion OF the trees pes
adopted for city shade, but in addl
ton to the blackberry, the sycamore
cottonwood, paper mulberry, catalp
and black walnut will each be toun'
well suited for locations where other
have failed I would recommend tn
planting of walnuts instead of the tree
whenever that variety would be in tn
right place. The nuts should b
. planted at once. They will star
growth in the spring, and growin
where they start, their roots are un
| disturbed, ana q vigorous nealGny ire
is the result. But whatever tree i
planted see that the broken roots ar
trimmed with a sharp knife, so tina
the cut portion will face downwar
, when the tree is put in the ground; Gu
away sufficient of the top and trunk t
| balance the loss of roots; dig a hol
wide enough and deep enough to freel
admit the roots in their natural posi-
r ton; fill in next the roots only fin
; surface soil without manure; tramp
down firmly, and with luck" the tire
: will grow. Its after form depend
upon its kind and its pruning. 1t wi
always pay to buy shade trees fror
reliable nurserymen, as they will b
true to name and have been handle
; with care in cultivation and digging
Those farmers who are workin
!. with their heads are making no com
Olajnt abont hard timas coUs tho aI