The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-07-31
STREET TREES VALUE
index Of Che Character Of Any
Community.
HINTS ON RLRATlNG THEM.

HINTS ON CHANTING THEM.
~aivs Each Tree Enough Room So
That When Fully Grown Its In,
dividua! Beauty Will Not 6e Lost.
Care of Young Stock.
Street trees ard their condition are
largely an index, for they have much
to do with the character and growth
Of a city or town. While they add
much Go the comfort and pleasure OF,
the inhabitants. the evident determina-
ton to be comfortable bespeaks the
character Of the people. Not only do
street trees concern the present, but
assures cne:of. still better results IN the
future. If one but takes the trouble to
lookthe matter up it will be found that
majority of the larger cities east Of
the mississippi started as well planted,
we'll cared for villages. Otter this
marvellous growth may be traced back
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
neighbers. "Why stand ye idly byT
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 en-
hausted Of plant food and completely
filed with roots; then the feeders make
a 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 Wal
start 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 into
and interfering with orchard or garden
NAV In the case of old trees be cut by
digging trench parallel with the row
and cutting them off. II the tops are
also properly pruned. the tree will not
need such an extensive root system to
support it. If the street tree Is given
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,
II we are to secure the best tree de-
velopment. is st-ikingly shown IN the
cas-, Of the common blue gum. forest
tree. When grown In commercial plan
tations or shelter belts it sends up
tall. straight shaft with scarcely
branch Of any note. When standing
alone it develops handsome. umbra-
geous form and often makes an ideal
shade tree.
One of the most serious drawbacks to
street tree planting Is the inability to
obtain capable men to do the work. IN
spite of the fact that men on every
hand may be found who claim to be
trained gardeners. very few are at all
competent to plant trees or care Tor
them after planting. Even, the best
gardeners are seldom trained IN those
lines which have TO deal with street
trees, and well trained orchardist Is
to be preferred for the planting. while
special training is required FOR intelh-
gent pruning. II more good men were
available. our larger cities and towns
might be encouraged to appoint tree
wardens or city foresters. As 1t Is, the
authorities feel somewhat helpless, and
the matter drifts along. the property
owner planting and the wind or wire
sringer pruning until no respectable
trees are left. Some day the city or
town awakes to find it has no street
trees worthy the name, and move
ment Is made to begin all over again,
reclaiming such trees az are Still OF
value, roofing out and replacing old
marred stumps. and onlv by general
upheaval is it possible to place the mu-
nicIpaIity on the road toward the city
beautiful goal.
Young street trees growing vigor-
ously need. attention in variety OF
ways. Abnormal and useless growths
must be cut of. and so must the top
at a proper height. the latter to induce
branching into low heading tree
rather than continuing upward into
spin6ly and insufficient exclamation
point on the landscape view. All
young trees. as rule. need stalking
and tying, and no halfway measures
should be adopted In this work. Have
the stakes strong enough to resist the
heaviest windstorm and the cord
equally effective. The latter should be
large and soft that 1t may not cut into
the tender bark as we'll as making .
closely knit knot that will not come
united or slip. Frequent and cooious
irrigations must ne given during the
FIRST summer following planting more
especially IL unusually large holes
have not been dug, so as to induce
free, farreaching root system. 1t is
,r,J ~ roroop,bar tho old o6monitiOn