The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27

ciety in which he commented on the mis-
takes made by earlier tree-planters and
the sad condition OF tho trees within Ger
tain limited district of the city. AS SINH
lar state OF neglect exists on nearly all IN
dianaPolis streets the publication of his
remarks may call attention 10 the danger
the city Is in OF losing one of its chief and
distinctive features. Mr.. Ballard says:
Trees have a place in the finn arts
Though the occupation OF the wood engraV-
or Is gone. the painter survives, and IN the
foreSI ou2d OF his landscapes he gives form
and color TO the oak and elm, and darkens
the waters OF the mountain lake with shad-
ows of the pine. One can imagine a home
without a mother, but VINO can form a con-
ception of landscape without tree
The people of this city have had an ex-
perence with trees. First. the locust was
the universal shade-giver, but the borer
punctured its trunk and it died. Next came
the cottonwood Everywhere it's scabby
trunk leaned 10 the gutter. There was
constant call for the amputating of its
limbs, and IL died from pruning. The silver
or soft maple succeeded the cottonwood.
Its branching trunk gives il the pose of
the elm. and its leaves, set on long petioles,
respond to the lightest breeze while those
of the nearby elm are motionless. But its
rapid growth was its strongest recommen-
datlon, and we adopted IL with the single
requirement that 1t grow quickly and give
us shade. We thought, the more trees the
better shade and planted them sixteen
feet apart, thus allowing but eight feet or
separating space for the spreading of crown
and the growth of roots. The branches soon
intermingled and the individual character
Of the tree gone. We got foliage, but
no beauty of outline. Then began a strug-
gle for life. The, central boughs grew sky
ward, and where they were sawed off.
numerous family grew up whose aspira-
tons were TO climb. OF the 1900 trees of
our city, probably three-fourths. are soft
naples, and among them al there are
probably not a hundred perfect specimens.
Had they been given thirty-five feet in.
which to grow a natural crown. we should
have the beauty of the individual tree. with
continuity of shade and a promise of longer
life. A vigorous use of the ak will relieve
the congestion, thereby vastly improving
the general effect of our streets, and devel
oping the individuality of the trees. An ill
shapen tree may furnish some shade. but it
Is without beauty. Why not have both?
Room for the leper," said the poet, but.
as We have no lepers and do have trees, let
our cry be room for the trees Permit them
to develop crowns that are their birthright,
and we shall have both beauty and shade.
The sugar maple is fine border tree. 1t
all. Some smaller cities of the State grow
them entirely, and they should not be
strangers on our streets.
Then, there is the linn. We have so few
of these that our children do not know the
tree. Its sturdy trunk holds aloft a broad
crown, and the multitude of its heart
shaped deep green leaves. supply ample
shade.
And the horse chestnut-where is it?
There is a in front of the SEVERN
property on North Meridian street and
Il
at Judge Martindale's. and possibly a few
more scattered over the city. If not crowd
ed, this tree develops a symmetrical crown
Its compound leaves. composed of seven
| leaflets, are rarity, and the novelty and
| beauty of its white flowers afford an en-
! joyment that conpensates for long walk
| in the early June.
That historic tree, the mulberry. should
be abundantly planted in all of our parks.
! 1t is stately in form, free from insects and
! long lived. If Lockerbie street was Dor
| dered with the mulberry or the linden. 1t
would acquire greater fame than ii now
| has.
| The Park Board has absolute control of
! the planting, pruning and removing of trees
| in the city, and what has il done? Mr..
! Power. the superintendent, says 155 trees
were removed during the last year. These
were presumably dead ones, and removed at
| the solicitation Of property owners. His
time is largely given to the parks, and he
| probably gives but little personal attention
| to street lawns.
During a recent stroll along Meridian and
| Pennsylvania streets, from Ohio to North
street. | made some notes. as follows:
On the new postoffice square nine trees
| that have been dead for years have re-
Gently been removed. Thanks for that. On
| the east side of University square there
was planted many years ago. row of al
ternating elms and naples, twenty-five in
all. In the struggle for life the elms lost
] three and the naples five The remaining