The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-21

beautiful gardens as the City of Next
co. and no people use flowers more freely.
many avenues of Lombardy poplars as
there are streets i'm the city. This tall, stiff,
ungraceful tree Is present everywhere in
Utah valleys. In no other place through
out America does il succeed as in Utah.
And nowhere else are there so many or
them. Streams of water flow through the
streets during the summer season, afford
ing necessary moisture for the roots. The
box elder also becomes very large, fine
tree in Salt Lake City, thus differing from
its habit elsewhere. The beauty and SYM
metry OF Utahs trees lies in one fact they
are in long lines and avenues, all alike.
The poplar tree is not handsome, yet the
avenues are quite SO.
TREES IN WASHINGTON.
No city of North America can vie with
our capital city for the extent, high char
acter and variety of the street trees. To
William Saunders, more than any person.
belongs the credit Of laying the foundation
of Washngtons street tree system. The city
park committee in the sixties began the
planting. Each street and avenue was de-
signed to have its distinctive character by
lines of trees all Of one variety. When the
Carolina poplar was first announced as
new, rapidgrowing, faultless acquisition,
the commission was induced to plant some,
but in a few years their seriously objec-
tionable qualities and the fact that it was
nothing novel, but purely a cottonwood,
caused the park board to dig them all out
and plant other trees. The Oriental plane,
tulip tree, Ginkgo, several of the oaks,
Eastwood. hard maple, honey locust, ash
and blackberry are all considered desirable
trees for Washington and are equally good
here.
The Washington city authorities estab-
HSheU
the trees for street planting. 1t was found
TO be difficult to procure young trees OF
varieties desired and in quality the hl8A
standard determined upon from estab-
hShed nurseries. The reason was PAIN
There was not a demand among the people
of the cities for high-class street and orna-
mental trees, which would encourage nur-
serymen to propagate these trees extern
sively. small number could be bought
but to plant miles of avenues with trees
of the highest grade the city was forced
to grow the trees in its own nursery.
1t will be found that this Is very nee
essary branch OF the park and street work
of indianapolis. When grown. these trees
should be supplied by the park depart
ment without additional cost to lot own
ers.
We have in Indiana a native magnolia,
which is hardy and suited for street plant
ing its local name cucumber tree, Is
better known This tree forms handsome
top requires little pruning and deserves
greater attention than ii has received.
The Park Board of Indianapolis mas
through ignorance of it's true character,
objected to the hardy catalpa, but some OF
the trees on Pennsylvania street are hand-
some and valued as highly by their own
ers as any other tree. The hardness OF the
catalpa. its vigorous character, its adapta-
bility for varied soils and locations, are
greatly in it's favor for street planting.
The black locust was largely USED Tor
street planting sixty years ago, Out lew
trees are so Objectionable; suckers come up
in the lawns a hundred feet away, and be-
tween borers and dying branches IT is al
ways annoying and unsightly.
The ailanthus has so Objectionable an
odor. sickening to many. it should be apoi-
ished from all parks and streets
An avenue should be formed OF one klnd
of tree. The beauty of tree lies In It's
symmetry delicate color of its folage, It's
of an avenue consists of all these quail
ties taken as a whole. spreading tree
standing beside a tall slender one: trees
varying in character and color oil 1onage,
scarlet flowers contrasting with white
blossoms destroy the grand effect or
stately avenue. Individually, trees are
Judged by their habits, and upon a lawn or
private grounds or park, variety is heces-
sary. but an avenue, like a grand army,
must be uniform for best effect.
Trees are of value according 10 tne point
of view from which we observe tnem; ror
Christmas decorate tons we select the molly
with it's beautiful red berries, contrasting
with the brilliant green of its leaves Yet
no lumbermen would plant forest OF molly
trees expecting to reap pT4neaoffe er crop forp
est planting and issue dlrectlons lol tIe
development of lumber producing Forest
Yet, if specimen lawn trees are requI .i.s
we give contrary directions, although tne
same variety of trees may be under dis
cussion, while for street purposes sun an
other treatment is demanded. The yalue Tor
street planting. and that for lawn orna-
mentation as well as that of the lumber
trees are all legitimate, but eacn requires
its special treatment to insure this value.