Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-06-24
STREET TREES VALUE
Most important Factor In Beau
tifying Town or Country.
PRACTICAL PLANTING HINTS.


in garden trees, so that trees are by
far the most important factor in beau
tifying both town and country. Just
at present those towns having an
abundance of trees are the most beau
tiful in the land.
1t is folly for any one to plant trees
and fail to care for them. Several
towns have all too many that have
never been cared for since planting.
inexperienced planters seem to believe
that all that is necessary to success is
to dig the hole, jam in the tree roots,
cover with soil and water once. THE
climate, rains, etc, will do the rest"
All street trees need protection while
young, and Il good and sufficient tree
guard is a strong contributing infiu-
ence to the proper development of good
street trees.
Both municipalities and individuals
should regard trees upon streets with
q more favorable eye than those in the
orchard, for of the two those planted
for ornament add the greatest value to
the land when the latter is cut up into
small home plots First see that the
soil is in proper condition and contains
sufficient plant food and that the holes
are dug large enough Next see to it
that the trees are young and thrifty
and have not been Stunted for two or
three years by growing in small can
or pot Then plant and water care
fully and sufficiently and you have
given the young tree a good start
After such careful preliminaries you
have a tree that has become valuable,
and you must treat it accordingly.
Frequent and cOpiOus waterings should
be given the first year and less fire.
quent but equally thorough doses in
all succeeding years. There is not a
St-eet tree but would be much bene-
flied by summer irrigation, no matter
what its kind, age or situation, except
1t be growing IN a swamp. \ tree 100
years old needs frequent drinks just
as much as one but year old.
If one has a broad, liberal parkway
in front Of his premises the mainte-
nance of street trees is not materially
different from the treatment needed
on country highways, but unfortunate
ly nearly all of our city parkways are
inadequate for the heaIthful develop
ment of tree life. When a cement side
walk IS on one side and an aSDhalted
street on the other it appears little
short of marvellous that street trees
grow at all. Trees must therefore be
given every possible chance and the
very best of care
No one can tell from the appearance
of the surface what the soil is two
inches below, and nothing in plant life
should be placed in the soil until we
know that soil conditions are at least
favorable. Neither clay nor sand nor
black adobe is fit to plant trees in I'M
less mixed with other soils or matter
which will ameliorate the physical
condition of the soil and enrich it as
well. One should dig a hole at least
three feet deep where the tree is to
stand, and if the soil is first class it
may be as well to plant without spe-
cial preparation, but if it is not ideal,
or nearly so, the hole should be dug
three feet across each way and prop
erly mixed soil placed therein and set
tied by water a week before planting
the tree. 1t matters little what kind Of
manure is used so that it be we'll rot
ted, and of course it should be most
thoroughly mixed with the soil before
filing in.
In selecting trees do not take large,
gnarly ones that have been growing in
pot or can for several years, for they
certainly have been stunted by such
confinement. In many cases where a
tree is several years of age the roots
when released resemble q giant cork
screw. Such trees are dear if obtain
able without price, for they will never
make first class trees, no matter how
much care is bestowed upon them. 1t
is nearly as risky to plant trees less
than a foot high unless unusual pre-
cautions are taken to protect them.
Trees from one to three feet, young
and thrifty, will be found to be most
satisfactory.
Important as the process of planting
is, one can never be certain that d
tree planted with the greatest care will
live and reach maturity Much de
ponds upon the after treatment In
many parts of the United States cult
walton is absolutely essential, and
nearly everywhere a tree will thrive
better and grow faster during it's ear
ly years with cultivation than without
it, and more especially is cultivation
naaIoJ IN narrow roarlyyvavc
The purposes of cultivation are main
ly to protect young trees from the en-
croachment Of weeds and grass, to
keep the soil in good physical condi-
ton and to retain the moisture Good
cultivation is that which serves these
purposes without injuring the trees.
1t does not necessarily include deep
tiIIage. In fact, deep tillage may be
positively injurious by breaking of
the feeding roots and is usually not
necessary to loosen the soil. Very few
soils are too hard for tree roots to
penetrate if moisture is plentiful. The
best way to retain moisture is by fire.
Quently stirring the soil to a depth Of
two or three inches The longer cult
NdtlOu 10 Sol1lIuuSu Lue DSLleL " III NC
the effect upon the trees. 1t should
not cease in any case until they are
well established and prepared to thrive
without further attention.
No Change of Faith.
Mr. Kirke had been setting forth
some Of his cheerful views Of life, and
the summer boarder was much pleas
ed. "You are real optimist," she said
joyfully.