Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-26
CARE OF CITY shade TREES.

Hardy Varieties azaRiJfew to Protocol
Them From Anfn1S1s8and Insects.
From the Philadelphia L@R5k
The selection Of al Saitable variety of
shade trees IL Of the nj hportance. The
most desirable variei Ire tho Asiatic
plane, sugar maple. NH13ay maple py-
randall type), silver mt tulip poplar. bal
sam poplar. American l. b and American
elm. Among those x4l are considered
as undesirable are the 6camore maple,
horse chestnut. ailanthps Or tree of heav-
en>. catalpa Cor IndiaA bshn tree), ginsko
and European linden.
In selecting trees frvm the nursery 1t Is
imperative that the trees should be healthy,
free from scars, wounds orsfnsects and have
an abundance Of energetic, fbrous roots and
straight stems. In this section trees should
be planted in the autumn. with the excep-
ton of two or three varieties.
In the matter Of soil, trees have lived
even In the combination Of ashes, blue clay.
brickbats and old shoes which have been
used to fill up the valleys. but 1t is we'll to
dig hole three feet square and three feet
deep In such places and fill in with rich
earth. A half bushel Of oyster shells mixed
in will neutralize the gas that poisons the
subsoii. The tree should be set no deeper
than 1t stood in the nursery and should be
placed not less than fourteen inches from
the outer edge of the curb.
AT the time of planting the tree should be
pruned with a sharp knife, not with shears
The ends of all trunk roots should be prun-
ed off, broken roots removed and fungoid
growths pruned away. The branches
should be cut back, reducing the tree to a
symmetrical form natural to the tree.
When the earth has been firmed around
the roots libel al supply OF water should
be poured on and then, without further
treading, fresh soil should be filled slightly
above the surface line. If the weather be
dry the soil should be kept moist.
To guard tree from the attacks Of It's
worst enemies-namely, cats claws, boys
knives, horses teeth and caterpillars-half-
inch-mesh galvanized wire cloth should be
placed loosely about the stem and fastened
with wire. 1t can be removed or enlarged
at will and is economical.
After pruning large trees all wounds an
inch or more in diameter should be covered
with paint, which will prevent the decay Of
the heart wood. The best paint for this
lamp black Coal tar contains carbolic
acid, which is Injurious to plant life. When
a tree becomes bark bound the growth is
checked. 1t may be remedied by Sitting
the bark up and down the stem of the tree
with sharp-pointed knife.
The attacks of caterpillars are least at
tended to by tree owners and they are
t Very aesorucelv ,h me s,r seeona 9rooo OF
now in evidence in the trees partially de-
nuded of their foliage. People are awaken
ing to the fact that this pest may be sue
cessfully combated.
The means used by the Agricultural De-
partment for exterminating them are three
first, remove and crush or burn the CO.
coons whenever and wherever found sec
ond, spraying with paris green in weak So
luton at the rate of one pound of paris
green to 400 gallons of water OF, If in ex-
ceptional cases. double the strength third,
place a girdle around the tree about six
feet from the ground called a pillar cat
ter which consists Of a cotton bandage
to which an adhesive paste Is attached.
The first two extelminate the pest; the
third prevents the caterpillar from ascend
ing the tree and places 1t in a convenient
place to be crushed.