The sun., 1919-09-22
TREE PLANTING TIME.
Information the Government Could
Spread In Circular Form.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir: With
in month the fall season for tree
planting will be at hand in all parts OF
the country except in the section in the
extreme south.
{ This season and this year. I believe,
have been specially designated by the
Government and semi-public organiza-
lions such as the National Forestry
Association for memorial demobstra-
ton, with which may agreeably coincide
the carrying on OF the work in every
community where opportunity offers for
planting trees, both deciduous and ever
green, upon roadways and school and
other public grounds.
What is needed is the printing of a
circular treating of tree planting in
simple. concise form. To obtain these
circulars in sufficient quantity will re-
qulre the aid of the greatest printing
establishment in the world, that at
Washington. The circulars should be dis
tiibuted from suitably established depots,
librariN, schools and public buildings.
without attempting to write this cir
cular, It is to be said that our Indigenous
parable resource in the way of an almost
confusing variety Of material peculiarly
adaptable to our use for shade--road-
side planting-for the identifying Of
park and garden and for commercial pur-
&c ses The people should be told that q
tree to be planted properly and to justify
the expenditure should be where pos
sble a nursery raised tree, which will
start with about a 80 per cent. advan-
tage over a sapling i'll formed and
stalky, snatched from the woods with
mapgled roots and poorly planted.
1t is hardly worth while to plant a
roadside tree of less diameter than two
inches measured short distance from
the ground. 1t should have a sound,
str aight stem. a Enthusiastically grown
top and a good supply Of roots. and 1t
is essential that to receive 1t there should
BE- a liberal pit in which the roots may
be well spread out
Some varieties of trees have certain
affinities and adaptabilities for condi-
tons and situations which can be easily
explained; but what wonderful va
iiety of trees we have to choose from
six varieties of naples, almost the same
number of elms and oaks the sycamDres
| or plane trees. the ash, the lindens. horse
ohestnuts. the locusts the poplars, the
catalpa, the hickory, beach. birch. and
even the willow and the now despised
ailanthus. which has its uses
Information such as is suggested will
have its economical value in perhaps
arresting the well intentioned but alto
gether unwise distribution of vast num-
bers of Seeding plants a few inches
grown. tumbled out of bales long in
transit into school Easements and given
without discrimination or advice to
young children.
| Some day our national and State nur-
serles will raise deciduous trees In large
numbers to be obtained for general use
| at small cost. In New York city such
arc the conditions existing in relation to
city tree planting In the five boroughs
for which there Is much need and op.
portnnity. that good quality tree Of
moderate size will cost when planted and
guard supplied from $40 to $50. The
planting should be encouraged by the
authorities, and the work might well BIZ
undertaken by city department at
the expense of the property owner wher
that is requested. since the city is to be
| the gamer in the added usefulness and
attracliveness which the tree affords.
As the matter stands the people III
net seem to be informed as to what the
movement means and of the exceptions
opportunity 1t represents to cooperate
with the Government in a serious ant
engaging public duty.
1t might be worth while to emphasize
the fact of the improvidence and waste
fulness which for a hundred years hav,
characterized our dealing with our won
derful natural endowments-our forests
and water supply in PARTICULARS in
dicative of a long neglected duty to plan
trees In season. wherever the will anC
opportunity serve.
In this relation 1t might be recalled
what happened during the last five year
in beautiful France and Belgium in tn
ruthless and cruel destruction and dew
astation spread over vast areas-tree
ard other forms of perennial vegetation
swept from the face of the country
never to be more than measurably re
stored. and that only in the slow NOV
inI centuries. Nor can II ever be JUST
fed or palliated. JOHN Y. CULVER.
New YORK. September 20.