Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-13
PLEA FOR SHADE TREES
COL. LATSHAW PROTESTS AGAINST
THEIR DESTRUCTION.
Points Out Some of the UnskiIlful
Methods Which Ruin the Trees
and Advocates n More
Sensible System.

itSittIuIS upon tIs ldCh VI CdIe DtSlOHtu
upon the shade trees of the city. Colonel
H.. ]. Latshaw is something of an enthu-
siast on the subject of tree planting. and
the situation has made him an alarmist.
He talked the other day about the wantom
destruction of the trees and the remedy
for the evil.
w all regret the loss. and even lament
the mutilation, decay and death of the
shade trees on the resident streets of the
city" said Colonel Latshaw. Still We re-
main inactive and without even a protest
while the means used to destroy are as
simple as they are potent and fatal IL
would appear that in our haste and greed
OF wealth We lose sight of those things
which are salutary and really beautiful.
We would quickly admit in the abstract
that enrich and embclliSh Il city as We
may, its real beauty lies in its trees; that
their cool shade and most gratifying grace
and comeliEeSI are uplifting and refining. and
that their salutary effects are to US almost
unguessed. We would also be quick to
decide that any other city in a climate like
planting, culture and protection of shade
trees, was wanting in all the forms OF
taste. Yet, our trees generally receive the
same painstakinS care which is bestowed
upon their rival. the hitching post; in
fact, the wounded and crippled trunk usIi-
ally combines the two offices in one, that
of shade tree and hitching post, and then
We condemn the species for the want or
vitality and beauty, and clamor for some
other variety more hardy, when We ought
10 know that nothing short of a castiron
tree would survive these vandal abuses.
1T is necessary TO take a preliminary
survey of the conditions which exist affect
ing our trees before We can intelligently go
forward to their betterment and to the de-
velopment of a plan which will insure their
planting, culture and safety, giving rapid
growth and beauty of form and foliage
as the result. There must be a systematic.
skillful and arbitrary policy adopted and
maintained for the care and protection OF
all the street trees of the town. and for the
Planting of the additional ones required.
Nearly all of the large trees skirting the
walks of the city We're planted before the
streets were curbed and paved and stone
left the trees too high above grade and their
lives in peril. There is one thing that We
are everlastingly forgetting, and that is
that a tree is q thing of life; that prac-
tcally it eats, drinks and breathes: and.
too. that it is imbued with a strange and
potent instinct. Give it any chance of life
tenacity which is a marvel in nature. But
have We left to our defenseless trees any
hopes of life? Have We left urdone any
thing we could do to destroy. save the use
of the ak? In paving the street We have
gone deep below the roots. cutting them off
on the curb side. and for sidewalk purpose
so that all the unmutilated roots remaining
are the few in the narrow treeway be-
tween the curb and the outer line of the
sidewalk. Uusually the tree butcher has
lad his chance Of mutilating and ripping
the branches of the treetop. leaving the
remaining limbs and body exposed to the
burning, bliStering rays of the July and
August sun.
.sThat a single tree survives these condi-
lions is most wonderful in forces of ma
tCre. Go along the streets and notice how
few trees with straight, unblemiShed trunks
can be found: and then observe, with in
dignity and regret, the large number of
warped and twisted. of deformed and de-
cayed, of ruined and dying trees that line
the resident streets. Mark also the many
"ssff n a'. Short fH time ir Unless ht there's is a differ
ent policy formed and enforced they will
all be destroyed. Horses are the natural de-
stroyers of trees. They ruin more trees than
all other causes; they gnaw and bite. strip
ping off patel es and strings of bark. wound
ing, and deforming the tree beyond all skill
or hope of remedy. For the man who DELHI
erately permits a horse under his charge
to deface a tree there is no fine too great.
of folIy@it is stupid wastefulness to Plant
trees unless arbitrary and strong provis-
ions are made and enforced for their care
out gardens; and unless we preserve its
trees. nothing will be left but dirt and
black; hot pavements and staring. ,glaring.
naked buildings. How pitiful that the gross
and cruel ruin of these trees which are use
full and really beautiful should go on in a
city of gentlemen and gentlewomen. How
strange that they. do not cry out against
the grossness of these abuses, with a note
of warning that al must heed. 1t is not that
and wanting in inspiration and passion for
n~aturc-in appreciation of her symmetry
of proportion and beauty in the form. and
foliage of her trees-but in the rush of life
with its duties and pleasures we forget to
give the consideration to these things which
In our better consciousness we would gladly
bestow. Every man of taste, and spirit.
every gentlewoman should feel and act as
il they were members of a society for the
prevention of the mutilation and deStruc-
ton of our trees.
Believing that the dormant sentiment on
this subject will be awakened and dominate
" a1-nry-thinp 70 which cpfrif and fnGfn ran
give usefulness and the forms of beauty in
healthy natural forest trees. We may go
culture and safeguards of street trees.
1.-The first thing which ought to be done
is to cut down all the old trees which are
hopelessly deformed and ruined and plart
young trees in their places: for it does not
| follow that all the conditions mentioaed
| apply with equal force to young trees. The
small. slender roots of these young ones
| are pliable, and when gwen q half a chance
will take care of themselves. 1t is wonder
full how they will instantly. go above and
beneath or around any solid or injurious
substances on their way for food, water
and air. If the ground in the narrow
treadway is made soft as deep as the foot
| bend and adapt themselves to the obstruct-
ing sidewalk. going under it. and keeping
a safe distance from the radical effects or
the cinders. they will come up for water
and air into the narrow space between the
sidewalk and the property line. In this
dry climate enough of water for a tree
1 aIAA- VA sEceAA 80
| little more. This demand is accentuated in
| July and August when the hot sun parches
and burns the foliage unless a sufficient
supply of water is given. The sidewalks
should not be laid too high above the top
of the curb so that the surface of the
ground of the treeway may be level and
slightly below the top of the curb. in order
that the fall of water in a usual shower
running off the sidewalk will be checked
! and held by the curb until 1t settles down
around the roots of the trees. So with
some skill and proper care We may have
in even these narrow healthy
and beautiful trees for many years.
1T must be admitted that a wide road
way is not only wasteful in its paving
and maintenance but il dwarfs the appear
ances of the residences along its way. mars
the landscape effect and robs the trees OF
the space to which they are entitled and
require for perfect health. natural growth
and freshness of foliage. On a paved street
neither necessity nor good taste requires
that the driveway should exceed twenty
eight feet in width. We viii soon look
backward with amazemert that any one
should have favored wide. black. hot road
WAYS on residence streets.
with a treeway six or eight feet in
wide. our opportunity Is made inviting for
the most successful growing of shade trees.
All we have TO do is to select the best plan
for a general planting. prepare the way.
and certain provisions for their care and
safety. In all these plans and arrangements
for planting the narrow treeways should
be included. Some time since mention was
made of the injuries inflicted on forest
trees by the severe pruning of unskilled
men. 1t would seem that something like n
For example, take a tree of the great fam
fly .of eims. with its dropping boughs in
their profusion of rich foliage. All its
graceful lines Of beauty were limned by the
divine touch of the great Master. One
would linger under its cool empowering
shades in that simplicity OF quiet enjoy