Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-21
PLANTING OF SHADE TREES
Prof. Jones Gives Practical SUI
gestions on the Subject.
The EIms ana NAPLES hest for street
pluutiug--TrCes should he Taken
from Favorable LocntiUns--
Spring best Time to Plant.


of the University to prepare an article
on the planting ana care of shade trees
in burlington. Professor Jones has done
this with much care and the board is
now having the article printed in pamph
let form for distribution. We give below
extracts of the most important parts of
the article
Nothing within our power to control
adds more TO the attractiVencss of our
city than its shade trees. 1t would be
easy 10 demonstrates that from the tinan
Cial standpoint alone money invested
rightly IN the planting and care of trees
viii add moro to the value of real estate
than any other Improvement. To secure
the most satisfactory results requires
judgment and some skill in the selection.
placing and care Of the trees.
KINDS SUITED TO STREET PLANT
ING.
Tho Elm--rhe common American or
white elm stand prc-cmincnt. nothing
contributes 50 much TO the beauty of our
streets as the avenues of Gins planted
and tended by the hands of a generation
past. Let each person who would pCrpct-
uate and increase the charm of Burlng
ton aid i'll caring for and extending these.
1t may we'll he the rule in street plant
ing when in doubt as to the kind. to plant
an elm, and consider well before plant
ing any other kind. in the street row.
Tho arguments in favor of the elm have
gained much with the multiplication of
electric wires in recent years. because it
Rlone among the common street trees can
he trained above these wires without
marring its natural form No other elm
equals our common native species for
general use in Burlington, although, as
explained below, some OF tho others may
occasionally be introduced for variety.
The Maples.-The naples appeal strong
~ to Nermontcrs. especially the sugar
maple. This is certainly to be placed sec
ond only to the American elm. The
NAPLES are all inferior to the elm in sew
cral respects for street planting. They
are shorter lived. more liable to insect
injury both of stem and leaf suffer quick
or from drouth, and naturally form a low
head which requires severe pruning to
train ii above the electric wires. and
when SO trained has lost it's natural sym
metry. \ common practice in new streets
IS the alienation of naples with elms in
the row. When these are placed closely
tho foliage in TIE row meets sooner than
with clms alone. and the plan in such
cases is. of course, to remove the naples
rs soon as the growth is so dense that
the trees begin to crowd. The objection
20 this practice is the serious one that
there is frequently negligence, If not OPP
position on the part of many lot owners
10 the removal of the naples, and the
perfection of the elm avenue is, therefore,
permanently me red.
Tho common soft maple" of Vermont,
better distinguished az the red maple, is
a faVoritc because of its bright coral red
flower buds in early spring and its bril-
liant foliage in autumn. If, however, one
considers rate Of growth and grace OF out
line the other native soft maple. the sill
YER maple. should be chosen. This tree,
which is Il native of our lake shore low
lands is the best species we have for
rapidtY Of growth combined with other
good qualities and deserves to be planted
much more than it is in our city: An eX-
c,llcnt specimen of the silver maple
stands in the street row Just below the
entrance to Mr. Edward Peck's house, on
College street. and some young trees III
the street row on the west side of North
Willard street at tn" foot of Brookes
avenue. a glance at tho accompanying
leaf outlines will enable one to distinguish
these native naples.
While recognizing in this way tn,
ol.ms of the naples TO a prominent place
in our street planting, We would urge
that there he less than heretofore OF
planting of scattering naples along II
the vacant places in elm rows. Nhilt
manlcs arc better than nothing in sucf
places it is suggested that at least every
other tree in such planting be an elm
that IN time the uniformity of the avenue
may he restored.
Cthcr <inds.-Whilc tho Gins an,
naples should continue to predominant
in Our street rows, there is opportunity
for pleasing variety TO be Introduced by
the selection of other kinds tor some o
the shorter now residence streets. Wher'
this IS contemplated all tho propert!
owners should gree in advance upon TIL
kind the planting be done at the SAM
time and the subsequent care should b.
uniform fer the best results. In TINS wa,
an attractive stamp of nCividualitY ma,
he secured for a street. which may APP
preciablY affect property values. j
planning such planting the park commits
sion will he glad to give or secure adNlc
as to tho selection of kinds. Tho follow
ing list, in addition to these previousl
mentioned. although rot exhaustive. in
cludcs some of the best: English elm
Norway maple. American password %
linden, European linden, tulip-trce (whit
wood, horse chestnut and beech.
KINDS TO BE AVOIDED.
Perhaps Il few sentences under thi
head may serve to lead others To prom
from some Of the mistakes made in plant
ing in previous years in our city.
Two of our native eVergrconS are to b
avoided viz: the natiN" black spruce
found in the swamps about BuiIingto
and not mfrequcntly transplanted. 1t
always sickly and ugly in dry soil, hu
unfortunately seems rarely 10 die alto
gcther Tho balsam fir, often so beaut
full IN the mountain forest tempts man
TO forget that in Burlington 1t is out {
its proper range ana even If fairly al
"a
and unsiShtlY in few years.
The native cottonwood, and the Carolin
poplar or cottonwood, have been planto
quite often. Apparently the latter Ia
been imposed by tree agents upon SON
unsuspecting persons. The only thin
in favor of these trees is their rapi
growth, they are so untidy, especially II
cotton hearing trees (the pistllate or sec
treesJ that in many cities laws have bee
enacted prohibiting them as nuisances.
TIE PLANTING AND CARE O
TREES.
Seasons-Trees should be transplante
In spring or fall pr. ferably in the sprn
For decduous trees early spring Is bes
as soon as the hard freezes arc past an
before the buds start j, O., in Apr
Cvcrgrccns are best handled late in Ma
or early June some preferring to wa
until the young growth is starting Art
tho new growth is under way evergreen
should not he disturbed until it is ful
over, i. O., late August or carly Septen
Der. Late autumn planting is not pra
ticablo for cvergreens.
SOURCE OF STOCK.
Securing Most of the trees for sire
planting in burlington have heretoto
been brought from the neghboring fell
and woodlands. If SO secured trees shou
be sought in favorable situations as
soil and light rather than in swami
bears transplantng better as a rule, b
I'd