Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-04-30
H A KILLS CITY TREES.
ImprcgnRtIOn of Soil Gas POisOnB
Roots, Which Gradually
shrIVel and Die.

According to the gardeners, the prin
cipal reason why trees do not do well II
our city streets is because of the i'm
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-
bic.
There seems to be no valid reason why
the soil should thus become impreg-
mated with gas, but that it is so is made
evident every time Il tree is opened. Al
together an enormous amount of illu-
minating gas must be lost every year
through leakage in the mains, n 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 an Investigation. If it
is found to be due to an excess of illu.
minatinggasinth 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 800
francs $500 upward for each tree. Each
tue is surrounded by an open space not
less than 10Nl5 feet, so arranged that
the pavement about itdrains into it and
keeps the roots well supplied with
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-
from the site and replaced with
Inc earth specially mixed and enriched
or each variety of tree. This treatment
S expensive, but it pays, for the trees
grow vigorously and require no atten-
ion, other than a little pruning, for 50
ears or more.
Something of the same system has
'eeh adopted by our park board. The
rees set out last year in Riverside bark
placed in specially prepared soil
md were surrounded by open spaces, SO
S to permit free access to air and water
ut we are not yet using gratings over
spaces. In the case Of old and deep,
Dotted trees, the subsurface flow of
may supply sufficient moisture,
ut air, which is quite essential to
ealthy growth, is almost entirely cut
from the roots by asphalt and other
'~aterproof p%avements. The soil
throughout most of the city is a thin
ravel, and the tree food in it is very
exhausted if it is not thoroughly
before planting.
1t is probably on this account-the
npoverishment of the soil-that the
'ergreens which were once the pride
the west side Of Central park have
NV almoSt disappeared. Perhaps, also.
e absence of lime in the soil has had {
me effect upon them. The last re.
'rt of Mr.. Rose, superintendent of IN
'rkS, to the park commission called at. al
ntion to the condition of these ever. ca
Gems, and it is probable that i'm 10
edlate steps will be taken to replace VI
ose which have died. Nearly all the Of
ergreens are of exceedingly slo.y
oWth, and prompt action is necessary tn
the present generation is to derive WI
y benefit from the proposed replant. ST
:. On the city streets, however. It is 81
whether tree culture could be
made successful without some meas. OF
e which would prevent such whole. ma
e leakage from the gas mains as pre-. on
us at presently. Y. Commercial Ad. ~
WI