Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-18
STREET TREES VALUE.
Index of the Character of Any Com
munity.

Index of the Character of Any Com
munity.
Street trees and their condition are
largely an index, for they have much
to do with the character and growth
of city or town. While they add
much to the comfort and pleasure of
the inhabitants. the evident determine
ton to be comfortable bespeaks the
character of the people. Not only do
street trees concern the present, but
assures one of still better results in the
future. If one but takes the trouble to
look the matter up it will be found that
a majority of the larger cities east of
the Mississippi started as wel-planted.
well cared for villages. Often this
to where some enthusiastic individual
or small band of workers determined
that their village should be made beau
tiful and attractive to home seekers.
Many can, if they would, start this
work with swing and gait that could
not fail to succeed, thereby adding TO
the property values of both self and
;. w HS y Z IJlN ny
Do not overplant streets. Allow each
tree sufficient room so that when fully
grown its individual beauty will not be
lost Trees so planted always make
the more satisfactory growth. Their
root systems start forth equally dis
tributed in all directions. If placed too
close to each other when of large size
| the space between trees is soon eX-
hausted of plant food and completely
| filled with roots; then the feeders MAKE,
| frantic rush at right angles to the
| row. seeking plant food wherever most
| easily obtained. In country districts
| this often results in these starving
| trees sending their roots into orchards
comparatively near the surface and
nearly destroying the nearest row of
| fruit trees.
| A most thorough preparation of a
| deep soil bed for the young trees will
start a roofing system down deep in
the natural reservoir of plant food. and
| the feeders will not then push up near
the surface to forage because of short
rations at home. Roots reaching int
and interfering with orchard or garden
may in the case of old trees be cut 10y
digging a trench parallel with the row
and cutting them off If the tops are
also properly pruned. the tree will moi
need such an extensive root system tC
support it. If the street tree is givei
an occasional feed and cultivation. as
is always the case with orchard trees
It might be induced to board at home
for all time. The need of ample room
if we are to secure the best tree dc
velopment, is strikingly shown in th'
case of the common blue gum, Il fores
tree When grown in commercial plan
tations or shelter belts it sends up !
tall, straight shaft with scarcely
branch of any note. When standin;
alone it develops a handsome. umbra
geous form and often makes an idea
shade tree.
One of the most serious drawbacks t
street tree planting is the inability t
obtain capable men to do the work. Ii
spite of the fact that men OH ever
hand may be found who claim to h
trained gardeners, very few are at q
competent to plant trees or care flo
them after planting. Even the bca
gardeners are seldom trained in thos
lines which have 10 deal with stree
trees. and we'll trained orchardist
to he preferred for the planting. Will
special training is required for INTEL
gent pruning. If more good men wer
available, our larger cities and town
might be encouraged to appoint tire
wardens or city foresters. AS it is. til
authorities feel somewhat helpless. an
the matter drifts along, the prOpert
owner planting and the wind or viii
stringer pruning until no respectabi
trees are left. Some day the city {
town awakes to find it has no stree
trees worthy the name, and a mov'
ment is made to begin all over again
reclaiming such trees as are still {