The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-18
VEGETATION NOTIFIED.
Trees and Plants I'm Cities Adapt
Themselves to New Conditions.
Irleans Tlmes-Democl.al

New Orleans Times-D emociat.
81 have been giving some study 10 the
question OF affording better protection 10
the vegetation OF cities. said local
botanist several days ago. "And a result
/ have found myself out in deep water.
but still with a rather interesting series
Of facts to deal with At firsi l had no idea
where the line OF thought would lead me,
and when began to figure ION the various
in fiuences which tend 10 arrest the growth
of vegetation I'm the cities they simply
multiplied with startling rapidity. Ny own
observations have convinced, me that these
influences not infrequently give birth TO
a fora so much at variance with the orig
inal as 10 make new classification nee
essary. But 1 have not traced these differ
ences with SUFFICIENT precision yet 20 give
out a scientific opinion, but / have FORM
ulated in crude way the various infiu-
ences which affect i'm marked degree the
vegetable growth of the average city. In
the first place there il the Iaatter OF noise
in all it's forms. and the Migratory rum
blings which go with the various sctivi-
ties OF an augmented population. Flowers
need sleep. Trees sleep. All forms OF vege-
table life must at regularly recurring IN
tervals be allowed TO lapse: into cOndi-
ton OF repOse, else some fadical change
will take place i'm the form OF the plant
But noise is not the only disturbing ele-
ment. so far as the restful condition OF
flowers and plants is concerned. Light r. no
inconsiderable factor. Plants and flowers.
and all kinds OF vegetation sleep best
away from the glare. So tho lights OF the
city. which blind all through the night.
must contribute somewhat TO this inter-
ference with vegetable sleep Dust and
smoke and other things that fll the air un-
questionably have considerable influence on
vegetation in the cities. Electricity. In
dependent OF its uses for lighting purposes.
has bad effect on city Vegetation The
OvercharRed condition OF the earth be-
cause OF the electrical currents that are
constantly finding their way back 10 the
point OF generation cannot be healthy
from a viewpoint OF vegetation. The con-
structiOn Of large buildings interferes with
the natural flow OF air currents. and the
plants of city are. in MEASURE. smoth-
cred because Of lack Of pioper and nat,
ural ventilation. The flower loves ana
Graves the kiss Of the breeze The joints OF
the oak must be- lOosened Nv the heavier
blasts The dead leaves Must be blown
away In order 10 facilitate the growth OF
the bud and the twig. Dead bark must be
shaken from the limbs and the trunk IN or
der 90 insure healthy grewth l might
go and multiply these Influences indef-
nitely, but IL IL not necessary. Every man
has observed the effect. for we have seen
the toughest OF plants. plants as hardy a.
the oak wither and die I'm cities on &C.
count OF these very influences. and the
matter at least affords a s-ast feld for
botanic speculation. and. : Speculation Ia
the forerunner OF solid. logical, philoso-
phlc deductions. much good may grow out
OF these musings.