Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-14
SAMUEL n. MILLS
On Care Of Trees

On OdFc OF lFcoS
LIVERY city in the country, large or small,
IL should encourage the citizens to main
tain the trees within its boundaries, ac
cording to Samuel III. Mills the city land
scape gardener.
"While the trees Of city are of value
principally for the beauty they add to a
town and the shade they give during the
hot weather." says Mr.. Mills, they have
some practical value as well. Philadelphia
stands high among the great cities of the
country In the number of trees which it has
within its limits. OF course, there are many
Of the smaller cities, where there is more
room and where the streets are not asphalted,
which have larger number of trees in pro-
portion to the population, but among the
large cities Philadelphia, both in the num-
Der and in the condition of its trees, is well
to the fore.
The Care Of Trees
''There is general impression among
those who are not familiar with arborcal life
that tree pretty much will take care of
itself and that all the householder has to do
is to plant the tree and then his work is
done. This however, is a mistake. Trees
will thrive in the woods and the open spaces
without much care, but even there they
would be vastly improved If they were looked
after IA little.
but in the city it is different A tree,
to prosper, must have care and considerable
attention. In the first place, the soil must
be treated occasionally so as to be sure the
proper food elements are in it. to make the
tree grow naturally, and sharp lookout
must be kept for the natural enemies of the
tree in the shape of insects
''The city will do most of this work if the
property owners will notify the officials
that the trees In front Of their home need
attention. Spraying and trimming must
also be done. Asphalt pavements and con-
crete work are also among the worst enc
mics of trees.
Roots Must Have Air
''The reason for this is that the roots Of
a tree must have air as well as water If the
life of the tree is to be maintained. con-
crete pavement may be run close to the
roots of tree as to leave room for water
ing, but II the air be shut off from them
the tree will not prosper.
among the natural enemies of trees the
caterpillar is one of the very worst. The
State Forestry Bureau has reported n new
enemy known as the japanese beetle, which
recently has appeared among the trees north
of Frankford Greek. 1t has been found as
yet only in very small numbers and there
is some dispute among arboreNl experts as
to just how dangerous to tree life the jap
anese beetle Is. Thus far, this pest has
done more damage to shrubbery than to trees
proper. Nevertheless, there has been n rigid
quarantine imposed on all trees and shrub
=
in that region is allowed to move either trees
or shrubs.
How the Pests Work
"Thc manner in which the catcrDilIar
works IL typical of the way nearly ali the
insect enemies of trees destroy them, that
ia by eating the leaves. This lets the life
giving sap out of the tree and ultimately
causes its death.
Then again there is the bark beetle,
This pest goes under the bark Of the tree. ms
its name indicates, and loOSenS 1t. sometimes
until 1t falls off in huge pieces. The result
Of this is the same nS when the leaves nre
eaten the sap Is let out of the tree instead
of going into II as nourishment and the tree
literally stnrVrG to death. These pests ure
always found on soft wood trees: This is
because the bnrl; Of Il hardwood tree mover
grows; ii simply expands, forming the dla
mund shaped designs which are familiar ON
nearly every species Of hardwood trees. Thn
Oriental plane is tree which loses its borL
These trees are doing 30 very early this ynnr
on account Of the long dry spell which we
have had this spring
''ThouSRnds 0i ttrSG trees are now LOSING
their bark and their leaves are turninS
brown, This should normally occur in Sem
tcmber Of each year, but on account of tbo
long drought, the zap has been forced ba"k
into the roots Of the tree instead Of nourIsb.
ing It as 1t should.
An Exceptional Year
From the tree lovers standpoint tbis bos
been most exceptional year. The san ran
earlier than was ever known before and tLa !
foliage was fully developed at an earlier date