New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-25
MISTAKES IN TREE PLANTING.
AN EXAMPLE IN 4 GOVERNMENT SPECI-
EICATION OF THE DIFFICULTIES
INVOLVED
John Y. CULVER. SECRETARY OF THE TREE
PLANTING ASSOCIATION. URGES THE
NEED OF EXPERT ADVICE.

NH4D OF EXPERT ADVICE
TO The Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: One OF the chief causes Of failure and dis
appointment in trce-planting Is due TO me fact
that so many people regard it as simple ana
commonplace undertaking. Tho misfortune Is that
enthusiasm and misguided good Intentions are
warped and those often deserving OF better re-
ward arc discouraged. Again. where efforts are
successful the results are sometimes deplorable,
as I'm the case Of unskillcd enterprise In me at
tempted adornmont OF many public and private
grounds. since otherwise desirable trees and plants
are lgnoranty or Improperly used only to produce
inharmcnious and incongruous results.
I, used 10 be said in the Army that you could
not expect all the cardinal virtues FOR sl3 month
nor should we in reason look for in the experience
and mental equipment Of departmental ofhc'aIs'
whether National. State or city. A comprehensive
expert knowledge Of all matters coming b"for"
them. The fact to dcplorA as % too often ma,
il the determined ard often resentfu indisposi'ion
TO seek proper aid and advice in matters whore
their own knowledge and experince fall short, TO
their own disadvantage as well as that Of the pub
lie which they supposed 10 serve.
As a sort Of timely obicct-lesson, and with no
Intent to invite rdlcule or unjust criticism. beg
leave to call attention to suggestive instances.
An invitation has recently been issued by tho
United States Government 20 submit, proposals for
supplying. planting. etc. number of deciduous
and evergreen trees for use at the military post
2, Fort Hancock New-Jersey. The substance and
literature Of the specifications are supposed 10 be
technical and precise. for the guidance Of bidders
after the requirements OF specifications generally
Here Is a matter I'm charge of highly paid Off
cials in this instance men educated at West
Point-who receive more than SIS month where
in is exposed the most deplorable ignorance or
carelessness and bad advice. IT, indeed. any advice
vas sought for. I know ~ no recent case, except.
perhaps that OF the attempt to plant trees nearly
thirty feet in height i'm the middle Of the las
summer in the -. Johns Park. which so
effectively points a tree moral ana adorns an
educational tale
In order 20 he exact here are the specifications
which are fully worth the printing aud reading:
Twenty Carolina pcpars. twenty sugar maple
ten Norway mauo. ten horse chesinuts ten ce-
dars. five pines five arbor yi;'r A OF me ABOVE ir1
:, 70 Is fert in h@ight. .traight-stemmed synme;ri
cal and in a healthy condition. Price to include
delivery the grounds Of tho trees. The furnish
srv for nla,tir, and The labor required for plant
Each tree 10 be st IN not less than one cubic
ard Of suitable loan. The sand excavation 10 be
first lined with Pinch layer Of straw or salt hay
Each Tree snail he provided with an approved
alongside thereof. to which IL Will be properly
s segeg s sy5 1b r Of sh 7 i wre in buap
to a height OF five feet above thc ground to pre-
'1 A t t@ Work T: t. be- done under the direction and
ID tho satisfaction Of the officer In charge. VINO
will designate the location and grade al which
the trees are 10 he placed.
In addition to the above" bidders are r,euested
TO name price per for furnishing all materials
and labor necessary or required for transplantng
from the woods Of For' fiancock. New 'rsey. to
such points on the post site as the ohcer IN charse
may designate. eighty naty" trees - varieties 10
he "f'Tq ny 5ne p Ger on loot Se ths
ground and from Is 10 p feet in height.
by the officer In charee and secured IN the same
manner as spscfd for r.! rSo nfSfy stock T,
moved. handled and 'eplantrd 10y Non skilled In
such work having proper tools. ouiht. ere. and Ia
such manner not to unnecessarily disturb or
break the roots and 80 as TO l'ave the trees unin-
jured at completion.
Ing excavations with straw or salt hay. furnish
ing one cubic y@rd Of oarl Tor each rfs ana
ping. etc. all 70 be subject 10 the approval o. The
officer In charge.
In the first place. deciduous tree. Of this diane
ter and assumed sic and development. Il worth
tho effort and cost Of planting. have already in
dicated their natural disposition. form and char
acteristics and being sound and I'm no way de-
formed. give promise OF 'h" h'au'y ard attractive
ness OF their kind
To procure such trees and 20 plant them ,rop-
cry will be costly hu, there i~ no objection TO
tho Government spending money for - desirable
"a purpose All of the tree ~ tA, viIi ties herein
specially enumerated. II conforming as they must
10 be- desirable. 20 the conditions above uo.cd will
% the ultimate height permitted "a these specin-
cations from five To- TEN f"ei and Within his area
81 excess VIII hc found the potentially - the
beauty ard character Of form Of the tree itself
which must be- horblrously sacrificed II the Pro
crustean methods usual To Government contracts
are enforced This to lie sure. could bc rcmedicd
I'm time by possibly one or TWO Cabinet meeting.
In Washington. or an Algerian short cut but
worse comes behind The soil is sandy We know
that. else might have doubts. The sand
il to be excayated to the extent OF one cubic yard.
twentv-seyer cubic feet: the pit is TO be- lined
with straw or salt hay the marvel ~ nat pro-
vision has not been made for a layer 80 redhot
mnuure-and one cubic yard Of soil or loam alled
In, in which 20 plant he tree.
II Is needless almost to say how generous must
and thrlyes. and especially young. vigorous nur-
sery tree Il II Is expected to grow develop sat
lsfaciOiily. Trees ~ tho size specified properly
rooted for successful transplanting should have
roots spreading over area ~ eight 10 twelve
feet proper receptacle I'm the way of a soed
Dit should be al least feet square or its equiya-
lent particularly In sandy environment: hence
the quantity Of SOL required may be represented
by the following calculation:
exexG equals ZIG divided by % equals s cubic
yards Of soil against one proposed TO be sup
piled. A foo, stake Is part OF the required
equipment but these stumped trees will not re-
qure bee .taked Good trees OF this size should
be blaccG. no; staked
The specification IS equally un.n,eligent in it,
application to the evergreen trees Evergre,ns OF
this slze. ~ 10 are specimen trees ard costly,
The same ignorance prevails as to the material
asked for and the provisions for planting in
the case OF The decduous plants
An equally remarkable feature OF tbs <e0uisi.