Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-10

only eighteen or twenty feet apart. Trees
of the largest size-such as lindens. elms.
sycamores, silver naples and tulip trees
should be planted at least forty-five feet
apart. The Norway maple and trees of
similar even growth should not be set at a
less distance than thirty-nve feet apart.
This is quite close enough for any kind of
tree in the street, and these rules of dis
lance are now being observed by the COM
mission. Such distances allow each tree
room for expansion, and obviate the evils
of too great density of foliage and total
exclusion of sun rays-evils which are apt
TO develop into intolerable nuisances, de-
priving dwellings of the sanitary influences
of light and air."
Trees and Health.
The most advanced sanitarians are not
fully agreed as to whether trees In cities
are injurious or beneficial to, health. Mr.
Saunders. who. besides knowing practical
" a. great deal of all there is to be known
corcernir things that grow in the ground.
is versed in several other bran ches of
learning. takes issue with the class of san
itarians who hold that shade trees in cities
incres Sc the death rate.
With reasonable care as to situation
and distance" said Mr.. Saunders TO The
Star reporter, ''it is impossible that shade
trees can conduce to disease. The con-
slant evaporation of moisture from the
foliage of trees during dry sunny weather
Immediately surrounding space, and i'm
parts baimy influence to an atmosphere
rendered arid by contact with heated sur
faces Of stone or brick. The water re-
CURED for their susteEance having to be
absorbed from the soil, it Is thus drained
Of much sGperf1uous moisture, keeping the
ground dry about foundations and cellar
walls. and thus far contributing to the
healthy surroundings of dwellings
ut is. of course. not advisable to have
trees SO close as TO form a constant shade
on the house itself, as II Is preferable that
the sun should shine on the walls than
that they be always shaded from its d.
rect rays. The common belief that too
much shade around q dwelling Is condu-
Give to ague has been proven an error,
for the best medical records assert that
trees do not influence this malady in any
degree. Instances are common where
dwellings heavily shaded by trees are free
from the disease, while in the same neigh
borhood houses entirely destitute Of the
shade of trees are full of 1t.
Il do not dispute. however, that I'M
healthy influences are induced and fos-
tered IL dwellings where proper ventilation
is retarded by dense tree shade. Without
heat, the primary factor In ventilation,
there can be no appreciable movement in
the atmosphere, and where the rays of
the sun are intercepted by the foliage of
trees this hcalthful movement in the air
is reduced to a minimum, So that damp
ness, with its accompaniment of sickly
atmosp here. pervades the cool overshaded
dwelling.
ITO prevent this trees should not be plant
ed at a less distance than thirty feet from
a building. 1t should not be the purpose
to shade dwellings. but 10 shade the side
walks and promenades for pedestrians. and
yet allow ample freedom for the admission
OF sun and wind on the street proper as
also on the surrounding spaces. Thus
while the cooling effects of foliage will
perN ade the atmosphere, and an enjoyable
shade be secured, ventilation will not be
impaired"
Guards for Trees.
Washington is the only city in the world
which has adopted the woven-wire netting
guards for street shade trees. to prevent
| their DETACHMENT by the nibbling of horses
and this guard has admirably proved its
usefulness. The wire guards cost the COM
mission twenty-five cents apiece, but the
money they save in the course of a year
more than atones for the outlay. The COM
| mission does not take much stock in the
wooden box guard. except support for
young. newly-tranSplanted trees.
1.-THE wooden box" said Mr.. Saunders,
| will support and control a young tree dur
| ing ste rms For large trees it Is worse than
useless. The weight of the top of a good
| sized tree, especially when the foliage is
| Wet. will loosen the box and generally
| cause the destruction of the tree. which, in
| swaying over, breaks or draws up the
stakes. carrying the box with it as it leans
| from the storm.
When the tree attempts to recover the
| Rightly OF the box prevents its natural
| backward swaying. so that every fresh
blast Of wind bends ii still farther until il
Is eventually either broken or Frustrated
| Moreover. the wooden boxes furnish q
refuge and q breeding place for insects
as by the way. do the utterly useless and
foolish bands Of cotton which a good many
citizens place around the trunks of theii
| street trees. apparently ignorant of the
| fact that the leaf-destroying insects and
] caterpillars are Matched upon the branches
| and do not crawl up the trunks of trees
flcm the ground
| Not Due to Pruning.
Mr.. Saunders scouts the idea advanced
| by some after the big storm that INSULT
cient pruning Of the trees rendered then
such an easy prey to the wind.
The worst treatment that street tree.
can receive" says he, lis to cut their tops
heading down.. as it is termed. This prac
tice is too prevalent in several nearby larg,
cities. 1t is kind of butchery from which
many palpable evils result. In the frs
place, it is a heavy blow to the vitality o
the tree, and greatly mars its beauty ant
usefulness for all time. 1t causes a thick
hedge-like growth Of young shoots, which
have to be removed. involving further prun
ing, otherwise dense growth. the yer.
reverse Of what is desirabl will endange