New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-28
FOLIAGE FOR THE CITY.
THE TREE PLANTING ASSOCIATIONS M
PORTANT UNDERTAKING.

DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OF MAKING TREES
LIVE AND THE NEED OF SCIENTIFIC
METHoDs-THE BEAUTIES OF VINES
AND THE EASE OF Guilt
WAITING THEM
The Tree Planting Association OF Newborn Ci'y'
which was formally organized last THURSDAY repre-
sents one definite phase of an important ana newly
awakened interest. The feeling that It's peculiar
commercial aspect, due chiefly to conspicuous ao-
sence of the sotening green Of trees and v'nes is
renroach n this town has been rapidly increasing.
II Is true that in comparison with other large cities,
New-York is remarkably lacking In this respect
While immense sums have been EXPENDED upo"
making its architecture a matter Of National pride,
the natural beauties which would form 80 eHec'iVe
setting for the creations of mems hands have been
almost totally neglected. Visitors have frequently
expressed their surprise at the dearth OF shade trees
and wondered why the dainty yet Eardy japanese
ivy should not clothe the brick and stone walls vi
New-York as elsewhere. with It's marveilousiy ue'-
cate foliage A realization of the truth OF 'hese
criticisms and a determination TO proceed immedi-
ate,v toward rendering them impossible have been
strongly shown of late.
NATURES FOES IN CITIES.
Nature has many foes in cities. The conditions OF
he air v,tated by gases and doors Of nearly every
conceivable kind: the poor soil, also saturated III
many places with the fumes OF and the general
insufficency Of moisture, owing 10 the soma cover
ing of stone on the surface of the ground all com
bine TO give vegetation hard struggle Tor eNiS,-
ence According TO the testimony Of several author
itjes on this subject every of these disadvan-
tages is present with especial force IN Ne"-forh'
Its soil In addition to corruping outside influences,
is for the most part vertable sandbed, III adap'ed
to the nourishmeni of either trees or vines The
Illuminating gas Is an apparently unconquerabe
enemy and has perhaps destroyed more plant HE
in the city than any other one agent. The mains
through which II is carried seem TO exist but 10 ieah
OF course the breaks are repaired when they ale
discovered but enough Of the deadly vapor escapes
each time into the surrounding soil to be the means
OF great havoc. Under the circumstances success III
cuvating trees. shrubs or vines Is to be Won oh'y
by exercising the greatest IN their planting ana
by guarding them assduously from injury there
after.
Compared with the tree question. that or the run
ming vines upon buildings Is much easier 10 ueai
with There are practically only TWO varieties WIZ"
are desirable for planting here. These are U"e
Japanese or Boston IVY and the more old-fashioned
Virginia creeper. botanically known as the am
peopsis tricuspidata and the anpeiopss qun''io''
OF these the japanese Ivy has recently 50 far out
stripped the creeper in popularity that 1t may DC
sad TO be used almost 10 the exclusion OF tne
other It's graceful habit of growth. quite uniiKe
that of any other vine has made IL Striking anu
familiar to the general eye In summer the varying
shades Of the leaves from a tender, clear, Hsht
green through the deeper tones TO bronZed ana
purple tint are beautiful. The autumn brings its
glory of color to the ivy as TO other foilaSe ana
winter Itself cannot rob the plant of its symmetry
of form, shown in the intricate network of its stems
and tendrls
THE JAPANESE IVYS REQUIREMENTS.
The Japanese ivy. to flourish. must have good
start in life The soil in which 1t is set ought to be
as rich as possible. and the plant kept watere1
copiously while it is striking its roots into the
ground Some sort of wire shield Is necessary 10
protect it from beng or broken. The growth
will he the surer and more satisfactory If the ivy
is three years old before it IS put 10 the task OF
covering walls In the open air
Boston is noted for the quantity Of this vine that
is used in adjoining It's public buildings and private
homes While the examples are far fewer in this
city, there are several which have for some time
demonstrated that the thing is entirely feasible.
The house OF William c. Whitney, at Fif;h-ave and
Fifty-seventh-st. Is covered with beautiful
growth of the ivy. So is the home OF Edward H.
Mitchell No 81 East Fiftieth-st Several churches.
notably St. Pauls. Grace Church and The Little
Church Around the Corner" gracefully clothed
with the interlacing vne and plants OF 1t have now
been set out at most OF the other churches. The
| old arsenal in Central Park and the reservoir In
Flfth-ave. between For;ieth and Fortysecond SITS.
have long attracted attention by their ivy-cad
walls.
With the exercise Of ordinary care there Is MOTH
ing whatever TO prevent the ampeopsis from oecom-
| ing much generally used tnan 1t Is at present
| 1t bears changes OF temperature well, and Is sub
stant.ally free from the attacks OF insects quite
| apart from any consideration of its beauty 1t Is
| greatly to be desired protection against the
| burning rays Of the summer sun. superintendent
Parsons Of the NewYork parks. says that the
| close growth by shielding the brick and stone OF
the walls has sensible effect In keeping the in
teriors Of buildings COOL II the ivy should be used
in the quantities which may be observed in some
towns he thinks the would unquestonably
operate to reduce the general temperature and have
beneficial freshenng effect upon the atmosphere.
The fallacy OF the old objections to cnging vines
as gatherers of dampness has now been pretty
thoroughly shown up. Superintendent Parsons says
that 1t is actual fact that so far from attract
ing moisture to the walls the vine has the opposite
effect of drawing 1t out from the stone for its own
sustenance IL In the time OF the popularity
of the heavy English ivy. with its rich but sombre
foliage and stout. woody growth, that the damp
ness idea was first put forward Between this
| plant and the japanese ivy there Is vast differ
encc and tire lighter and more delicate variety re-
moves any ground for complaint which may pos
sibly have existed in regard to the denser vine.
THE VALUE OF TREES TO THE CITY.
1t would be a hard matter to overestimate the
value Of trees NewYork City. II the inhabitants
could realize the force OF this truth In Its many
different aspects any movement toward an improve
ment OF the existing conditions would receive the
hcartiest and most general support. Imagine a
walk up Ffth-ave. or any OF the favorite thorouSh-
fares under a continual arch OF leafy. she.tering
branches Not only would the passer-by be pro-
tected from the direct glare from above, but the
pavements would be comfortable to tread, Instead
of suggesting stone ovens by the ferceness of the
absorbed and reflected heat. Members of the med
cal profession almost universally In favor OF
an increase OF shade trees in the streets. 1t Is
! we'll known that they would act In much the same
way the vines in keeping the air cool and filled
with a certain amount OF the freshness which Is
| the countrys charm. Sunlight enthusiasts need
| fear Ill results from the pan because at the
season when the suns warmth IL needed the leaf
| less branches would put obstacle In Its way. II
| is not probable that the widest OF advocates
of the hea,thfu effects OF sunshine would contend
that the full strength OF the midsummer beams is