The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-04-27
WHAT KILLS CITY TREES.
fmpregnstfon of Soil with Gas Poisons
Roots, which Gradually
shrfve1 and Die.

According to the gardeners, the prin-
cipal reason why trees do not do well in
our city streets is because of the inn
pregnation of the soil with gas. Some
trees are less sensitive than others, per-
haps the best ones being our common
poplar, but no tree can long Withstand
the effects of leaking gas mains near its
roots. The trees in the parks have es-
capped contagion so far, but In most of
city streets the tainted soil now renders
the growth of good specimens impossi-
BILE.
There seems to be no valid reason why
the soil should thus become impreg-
mated with gas, but that II is so is made
evident every time q tree is opened. Al
together an enormous amount of illu-
minating gas must be lost every year
through leakage in the mains, a loss rep
resenting a considerable sum of money,
yet against which no special steps have
been taken. The effects of the gas on
the city's trees are least of all con-
sidered. In Europe, and especially in
France, they do better. When a city
tree dies there the cause is promptly
determined by All investigation. IL it
is found to be due to an excess of illu-
minating gas in the soil the gas company
is required to replace it. If this is not
done at once a new tree is planted by
the city and the cost is charged to the
company.
As the cost of planting city trees Is
quite heavy, where the work is properly
done, the gas companies in Europe are
very careful in laying their mains. and
the leakage is small as compared with
that in New York. In France the cost
Of planting ranges from about 300
francs $500 upward for each tree. Each
tie is surrounded by an open space not
less than 10x15 feet, so arranged that
the pavement about ii drains into it and
keeps the roots well supplied with
water. The open spaces are covered
with iron gratings, which permit the
free passage of air and water, but pre-
vent any possibility of mud. When a
tree is to be planted all the soil is re-
moved from the site and replaced with
fine earth specially mixed and enriched
for each variety of tree. This treatment
is expensive, but it pays, for the trees
grow vigorously and require no atten-
ton, other than little pruning, for so
years or more.
Something of the same system has
been adopted by our park board. The
trees set out last year in Riverside park
were placed in specially prepared soil
and were surrounded by open spaces, so
as TO permit free access to air and water.
but we are not yet using gratings over
the spaces. In the case of old and deep
rooted trees, the subsurface flow of
water may supply sufficient moisture,
but air, which is quite essential to
healthy growth, is almost entirely cut
off from the roots by asphalt and other
waterproof pavements. The soil
throughout most of the city is a thin
gravel, and the tree food in it is very
soon exhausted if it is not thoroughly
enriched before planting.
1t is probably On this accountable
mpoverishmcnt of the soil-that the
evergreens which were once the pride
of the west side of Central park have
now almost Disappeared Perhaps, also
the absence of lime in the soil has had
some effect upon them. The last re-
port of Mr., Rose, superintendent OF
parks, to the park commission called at
tention to the condition of these ever
greens, and it IS probable that i'm
mediate steps will be taken to replace
those which have died. Nearly all the
evergreens are Of exceedingly sloH
growth, and prompt action is necessary
ii the present generation is to derive
any benefit from the proposed replant-
ing. On the city streets, however, it is
doubtful whether tree culture could
be made successful without some meas
ure which would prevent such whole
sale leakage from the gas mains as pre-
walls at present.-N. Y. Commercial Adj
yertiser.