Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-13

in natural groves and open woods should
at once be our inspiration and example:
Tor no tree fashioned by the hand of skill
can equal many Of these in their matches
symmetry and beauty.
What shall be the system adopted? How
and by whom shall the trees be planted.
cultivated and largely guarded? l can
mention only n few of the difficulties IN
the way OF growing street trees success
been said to indicare that experience and
skill are required for this difficult UNDER
taking: Shall this special service be en-
trusted to the owners of property fronting
on the street and who have neither har-
mony of taste nor purpose? Certainly
not. We have tried this plan long enough
and must be discarded. Reason and expert
ence alike demand a different policy if we
intend to make the city cool :nd beautiful
trees. We have learned that one property
owner would buy trees taken W in the
woods, with tops and roots mutilated and
which had been hauled TO town with the
roots exposed to the sun, and then hawke1
around the city. He would do this because
they were so convenient and cheap. when
every man of experience knows that n
nursery grown tree, or one produced under
similar conditions. is the only tree worth
the planting He would then as usual.
dig a posthole and chuck the tree in. where
It would linger feebly for years or die out
the FIRST season.
where should be planted with the same
painstakinS gentleness of care. The adj
Joining property owner may select and
plant with care the proper trees and pro-
vide guards for their safety. But the next
ne!Shbor Will not plant an. trees at all,
so that it is impossible that continuous
shade or harmony .can maintain in the
adornment for a street with trees. 1t is
discouraging ard hopeless for anyone to
try to beautify a street while his want
of mo and methods prevails. The
selection of trees suitable for planting re-
quires the knowledge and skill of expert
ence. for it Will not do to admit that every
nursery grown tree is fit for transplanting.
1t would not do to trust this management
to nursery men, who as 4 class are tie
most skillful and best equipped 10 select
the trees and do the planting. To let the
selection and plantinS of trees to the best
scape gardening has rarely been success
fully done by contract. AS well might one
propose to let the medical attention of
those who are i'll to the physician who
would warrant his remedies. 1t is the
healthy. vigorous. perfect tree that We
should alone select and plant: if it dies it
will be dead a long time: If it feebly lin
gers along for many years, what warrant
can insure against this loss OF time ard
these fatalities?
The whole system must be under the di-
rection and absolute control of earnest and
able men who have no other purpose than
that of making the city healthful. cool IN
summer and inviting in the engaging beauty
of its streets and boulevards, paseos and
parks. The only way to accomplish these
results with safety and economy. with uni
formity and certainty. is to place this whole
subject under the management and control
of the park board. giving them ample pow
err by ordinance TO do anything necessary
to save the street trees remaining ard for
the planting. care and guarding of the
new ones. which should be planted in the
where there is a vacancy or trees are re-
CURED"