West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-17
STREET TREES VALUE
Most important Factor In Beau
tifyins Town or Country.
PRACTICAL PLANTING HINTS.

See That Soil Conditions Are Favor.
able-How TO Dig the Holes and Sc.
leet Best Kinds For orowth-After
Care and Protection Of Street Trees.
The heaviest asset OF the town beau.
tiful Hes, first. In It's street and. second
In garden trees, 80 that trees are by
far the most Important factor In beau.
ufying both town aud country. Just
Vt present those towns having an
abundance OF trees are the most beau.
uful In the land.
IL Is folly for any one TO plant trees
ana faiI 10 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 10 success IL
to dig the hole. jam I'm the tree roots.
cover with soil and water once. "Thc
climate. rains. etc. will do the rest"
All street trees need protection while
young. and good aud sufficient tree
guard ls strong contributing inhu.
ence TO the proper development Of good
street trees.
Both municipalities and individuals
should regard trees upon streets with
more favorable eye than those I'm the
orchard. for of the two those planted
for ornament add the greatest value TO
the land when the latter il cut un into
small home plots. First see that the
soil Is In proper condition and contains
sufficient plant food nnd that the holes
are dug large enOU' Next see 10 Il
that the trees nrc ung aud 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 aud YOU have
given the young tree n good start.
After such careful prclimlnnrles YOU
nave tree that has become valuable,
and you must treat IL accordingly.
Frequent and coplous waterings should
be given the first year and less frc.
quent but equally thorough doses In
all succeeding years. There is not n
street tree but would be much bene-
hted by summer Irrigation, no matter
what It's kind. age or situation. except
it be growing In n swamp. \ tree 100
years old needs frequent drinks Just
as much as one but year old.
if one has broad. liberal parkway
In front OF his premises the maInte.
nance OF street trees IL not materially
different from the treatment needed
on country highways, but unfortunate
~ nearly all OF our city parkwnys are
inadequate for the healthful develop
ment OF tree life. When n cement side.
walk IS on one side and an nspbalted
street on the other II appears little
short OF marvellous that street trees
grow at all Trees must therefore l,e
given every possible chance aud tho
very best OF care.
No ono can tell from the appearance
OF the surface what the soi i two
Inches below. ard nothing in plant life
should he plnced In the Soll until we
know that soil conditions are M least
favorable. Neither clay nor sand nor
black adobe Is NJ to plant trees I'm un.
less mixed with other soils or matter
which Will amcllornte the physical
condition OF the soil and enrich n ms
wen. Onc should dig hole at lcn2t
three feet deep where the tree Is TO
stand md II the soil Is first class n
may be as well 60 plant without spe.
cial preparation. but II II H. not ideal.
or nearly so. the hole should bc dug
three feet across each way aud n prop-
erly mixed soil placed therein ana set.
tied by water n week before planting
the tree. II matters little what kind OF
manure Is used so that 10 he well rot.
ted, and OF course II should be most
thoroughly mixed with the soil before
filling In.
In selecting trees do not take large
gnarly ones that have been growing I'm
pot or can for several years. for they
certainly have been stunted by such
confinement. In many cases where n
tree Is several years OF age the roots
when released resemble n giant cork
screw. Such trees are dear n obtain.
able without price. for they will never
make first class trees. no matter how
much care IS bestowed upon them. II
Is nearly as risky to plant trees less
than a foot high unless unusual pre-.
cautions are taken 10 protect them.
Trees from one to three feet. young
nnd thrifty. VIII be found 90 be most
satisfactory.
important as the process Of planting
is, one can never be certain that
tree planted with the greatest care will
live and reach maturity. Much de-
pends upon the after treatment. I'm
many parts Of the United States culfi
walton Is absolutely essential. aud
nearly everywhere tree VIII thrive
better and grow faster during It's ear.
~ years with cultivation than without
II. and more especially Is cultivation
needed IN narrow parkw
The purposes OF cultivation are main
" To protect young trees from the en-.
croacbment of weeds and grass. 10
keep the soil ln good physical condi.
ton and 10 retain the moisture. Good
cultivation Is that which serves these
purposes without injurlng the trees.
lt does not necessarily include deer
tllage. IN fact. deep tillagc may be
positively injurious by breaking On
the feeding roots and is usually not
necessary 10 loosen the soil Very few
soils arc too hard for tree roots 10
penetrate N moisture is plentiful The
best way ia retain moisture ls by frc
qucnuy stirring the soil 90 a depth ~
tive or three inches The longer culti
walton is continued tho better VIII be-
the effect mon thc trees 10 should
not cease ln any case until they are
wei established and prepared 10 thrive