The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-12-18
FORESTER EXPLAINS
RIGHT way TO TRIM
C|TY'S SHADE TREES
Robb S. Spray Blames Ruth
less Butchers for Ruin of
Many Fine Specimens
Advises Care.
BY ROBE S. SPRAY.

Richmond is said to be proud of her
shade trees and shady streets. Such
things are just objects OF pride, and
to the casual observer Richmond has
the right to be proud. Her streets are
lined with large trees. Hardly new
street but which is planted before
single house is builto on it. Here and
there stand immense elms. singly or
IN groups. Many OF the older homes
and public buildings are we'll shaded
by old elms and hard maple.
But-the one who studies the situa-
ton and observes carefully looks long
to find a real cause for pride. To be
sure, the streets are lined with trees
which are ninety per cent silver ma
pies (accordng to actual count by
Prof. J. f. ThompsonD Not only are
they lined WITH but in some places
they are literally walled with trees
livery citizen wants shade and be buys
trees. One little sappling on forty
five foot lot looks lonesome and he
plants three instead, forgetting that he
is planting for the future and not for
the present. His neighbors do the
same and the result is a spacing of
twelve to fifteen feet. when the least
Examine New Trees.
EpdtiuS SilOulI Dt thirty 1eol.
Examine the trees newly planted
and see If eighty per cent are not sun
scaled and drilled full OF borer gal
leries. Test the branch tips and you
will find fifty per cent OF them life
less Small loss, however, as two thirds
of these are soft, or silver naples.
Consider closely the average street
shade tree of medium size. In summer
nature kindly hides deformities. but
now when the trees are bare the gen
eral appearance is that of a row of
badly distorted telegraph poles. What
foliage is left by the linemen is remov-
ed by tree trimmers, and the tree is
absolutely stripped of all its branches
leaving only bare stubs. In the follow
ing year the trees attempt to replace
the lost branches and the result Is
bushy growth of weak sprouts. At the
tip of the stub decay usually occurs be-
fore the wound can heal. Borers gain
entrance and if the tree survives the
operation it is so disfigured that death
and removal would improve the stu
alton.
Need Rational Care.
Here and there are found really fine
shade trees, and then we also find that
they are beautiful because they are
untouched. This would seem to indi-
cate that trees should be left to their
own resources, and has led to the argu-
ment that nature can take better care
OF her trees than man. Possibly this is
true where the trees grow in the en-
vironment nature intended for them.
Man has built up series of artificial
conditions which no tree can success
fully resist without aid. Rational care
is necessary and it will be found that
the fine trees are almost invariably
lawn trees which have been practically
undisturbed.
The idea seems quite prevalent here
that every so often trees need to be
trimmed to increase their vlgOr. This
trimming" consists of turning loose
man with a saw who proceeds to
remove from fifty to seventy-t1ve per
cent of the foliage. What remains al
ter the trimming" consists of a trunk
and few stubs absolutely destitute OF
any trace of vegetation, This practice
is absolutely wrong and Weakens the
tree predispOsing it to fungOus and
insect attack. What is needed is train
ing and not trimming. Training begins
with the newly planted tree and by
removing undesirable branches the
tree is made to take on desired
shape 1t should be remembered that
trees were intended to grow in forests
and that man has seized upon them
for his own use. They still retain
their branching habits and to over
come these they must be carefully
trained to desirable shape. If this is
done there will be no need of severe
trimming.
Delicious brown cakes made from
Mrs Austins Bag Pancake Flour