Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-10

children, and rolled over by the little
ones on scooters and in wagons had
more to do with this lethargy than any
lack Of interest in the matter.
Some people, of course, have greater
and more abiding interest in trees than
others, Just as some home owners ''go
in" for shrubs, others take up the
cultivation of ANIMALS, and others pre-
fer broad-leaved evergreens.
There can be little question IN any
ones mind, however, as TO the desir-
ability of trees in residential sections.
One has but to go to certain commune
ties entirely bare of them to note the
general effect of baroness which their
entire lack creates.
Even a few trees, If they are large
enough, will change the aspect of such
a neighborhood We cannot say as
much for the small trees fenced in by
ugly boxes, but no doubt the uglinesS
must be borne with for the sake OF the
hope of future beauty. We say "for
the sake of the hope" for tree culture
in city is not today what it once was.
The increase of gas, the increase OF
concrete areas, have done much, we
believe, to make it difficult for trees to
grow into the old-time luxuriant beau
ties which cast their shade over streets
and sidewalks.
placed on the retention of trees in
home building sites. 1t was not so
many years ago that a general con-
tractor, going into an undeveloped
neighborhood, made a clean sweep OF
all the trees on the land.
Today that attitude has almost re-
versed itself. Builders sometimes go to
extreme lengths to preserve every pos
sible tree, sometimes even planning the
house to fit the trees. We have seen
a few instances of where this laud-
able desire has been carried too far.
Huge oaks left close to chimneys tend
to cut down the draft. 1t is true that
furnaces will work under such condi-
tons, but they will not work as well.
Yet that is but practical point. The
real point lies In the consideration of
the house and the tree from the stand
point of beauty.
The eSthetics OF the situation call
for the placement of the tree at q
certain distance from the house. Any
one can prove this for himself by
creating a model Of a lawn, a house
and a tree, or perhaps two trees, and
then placing the trees at various dis
tances from the house.
We refer, of course, to the trees which
might be called front trees, or front
elevation trees. If these are jammed
close to the side of the house, or by
the front door, or next to porch,
some Of the general effect is lost
Withdrawing them to positions for
ward and to one side invariably tends
to make the house look larger, the en-
tire grounds better, helps to give vista
to the house, and the whole place an
air of well-being.
Perhaps the explanation is this:
That properly placed trees seem to
have been so placed by a designing
mind, even when nothing but good for
tune has dictated their placing, where
as trees stuck in helter-skelter. even
If done by the hand Of man, seem to
have been the result Of a sad lack of
intelligence.
This is the theory Of the thing. OF
course, some houses and some trees just
naturally "go'' together. They may vio-
late all the rules, and yet together
achieve q beauty which more formal
rules might never secure.
Nothing helps q house more than a
fine tree to the rear. Rising Up over
the roof, 1t gives an elemental back
ground which no amount Of formal
planning may give to a home. We
have seen estates made" solely by their
trees, even q single house made" by
one tree.