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Studies About Trees

<h1>Chapter V</h1> <h2>What Trees to Plant and How</h2> The following classification will show the value of the more important trees for different kinds of planting. The species are arranged in the order of their merit for the particular object under consideration and the comments accompanying each tree are intended to bring out its special qualifications for that purpose. Conditions for tree growth in one part of the country differ from those of another and these lists, especially applicable to the Eastern States, may not at all fit some other locality. <table class="ch_v" summary="Trees Best for the Lawn"> <tr><th colspan="3"><h3>Trees Best for the Lawn</h3></th></tr> <tr><th class="subheader" colspan="2">Deciduous</th></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">1.</td><td class="species">American elm (Ulmus americana)</td><td class="description">One of the noblest of trees. Possesses a majestic, wide-spreading, umbrella-shaped crown; is easily transplanted, and is suited to a variety of soils.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">2.</td><td class="species">Pin oak (Quercus palustris)</td><td class="description">Has a symmetrical crown with low-drooping branches; requires a moist situation.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">3.</td><td class="species">European linden (Tilia microphylla)</td><td class="description">Possesses a beautiful shade-bearing crown; grows well in ordinary soil.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">4.</td><td class="species">Red maple (Acer rubrum)</td><td class="description">Shows pleasing colors at all seasons; grows best in a fairly rich, moist soil.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">5.</td><td class="species">Copper beech (Fagus sylvatica, alropurpurea)</td><td class="description">Exceedingly beautiful in form, bark, and foliage and possesses great longevity and sturdiness. It is difficult to transplant and therefore only small trees from 6 to 10 feet in height should be used.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">6.</td><td class="species">Coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus)</td><td class="description">A unique and interesting effect is produced by its coarse branches and leaves. It is free from insects and disease; requires plenty of light; will grow in poor soils.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">7.</td><td class="species">European white birch (Belula alba)</td><td class="description">A graceful tree and very effective as a single specimen on the lawn, or in a group among evergreens; should be planted in early spring, and special care taken to protect its tender rootlets.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">8.</td><td class="species">Gingko or Maiden-hair tree (Gingko biloba)</td><td class="description">Where there is plenty of room for the spread of its odd branches, the gingko makes a picturesque specimen tree. It is hardy and free from insect pests and disease.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">9.</td><td class="species">Horsechestnut (Æsculus hippocastanum)</td><td class="description">Carries beautiful, showy flowers, and has a compact, symmetrical low-branched crown; is frequently subject to insects and disease. The red flowering horsechestnut (A. rubicunda) is equally attractive.</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><div class="illustration" id="fig92-box"><ANTIMG class="illustration" width-obs="629" height-obs="455" id="fig92-img" src="images/fig092.jpg" title="[Illustration: Fig. 92.—A Lawn Tree. European Weeping Beech.]" alt="[Illustration]" /><div class="caption">Fig. 92.—A Lawn Tree. European Weeping Beech.</div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">10.</td><td class="species">Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)</td><td class="description">Has a symmetrical crown and colors beautifully in the fall; requires a rich soil and considerable moisture.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">11.</td><td class="species">Soulange’s magnolia (Magnolia soulangeana)</td><td class="description">Extremely hard and flowers in early spring before the leaves appear.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">12.</td><td class="species">Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)</td><td class="description">Popular for its beautiful white flowers in the early spring and the rich coloring of its leaves in the fall; does not grow to large size. The red-flowering variety of this tree, though sometimes not quite as hardy, is extremely beautiful.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">13.</td><td class="species">Japanese maple (Acer polymorphum)</td><td class="description">It has several varieties of different hues and it colors beautifully in the fall; it does not grow to large size.</td></tr> <tr><th class="subheader" colspan="2">Coniferous</th></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">14.</td><td class="species">Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis)</td><td class="description">Forms a dignified, large tree with a compact crown and low branches; is hardy.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">15.</td><td class="species">Austrian pine (Pinus austriaca)</td><td class="description">Is very hardy; possesses a compact crown; will grow in soils of medium quality.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">16.</td><td class="species">Bhotan pine (Pinus excelsa)</td><td class="description">Grows luxuriantly; is dignified and beautiful; requires a good soil, and in youth needs some protection from extreme cold.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">17.</td><td class="species">White pine (Pinus strobus)</td><td class="description">Branches gracefully and forms a large, dignified tree; will thrive on a variety of soils.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">18.</td><td class="species">European larch (Larix europaea)</td><td class="description">Has a beautiful appearance; thrives best in moist situations.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">19.</td><td class="species">Blue spruce (Picea pungens)</td><td class="description">Extremely hardy; forms a perfect specimen plant for the lawn.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">20.</td><td class="species">Japanese umbrella pine (Sciadopitys verlicillata)</td><td class="description">Very hardy; retains a compact crown. An excellent specimen plant when grouped with other evergreens on the lawn. Does not grow to large size.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">21.</td><td class="species">Mugho pine (Pinus mughus)</td><td class="description">A low-growing evergreen; hardy; important in group planting.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">22.</td><td class="species">Obtuse leaf Japanese cypress (Retinospora obtusa)</td><td class="description">Beautiful evergreen of small size; hardy; desirable for group planting.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">23.</td><td class="species">English yew (Taxus baccata)</td><td class="description">An excellent evergreen usually of low form; suitable for the lawn, massed with others or as a specimen plant; will grow in the shade of other trees. There are various forms of this species of distinctive value.</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="3"><h3>Trees Best for the Street</h3></th></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">1.</td><td class="species">Oriental sycamore (Platanus orientalis)</td><td class="description">Very hardy; will adapt itself to city conditions; grows fairly fast and is highly resistant to insects and disease.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">2.</td><td class="species">Norway maple (Acer platanoides)</td><td class="description">Very hardy; possesses a straight trunk and symmetrical crown; is comparatively free from insects and disease and will withstand the average city conditions.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">3.</td><td class="species">Red oak (Quercus rubra)</td><td class="description">Fastest growing of the oaks; very durable and highly resistant to insects and disease; will grow in the average soil of the city street.</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><div class="illustration" id="fig93-box"><ANTIMG class="illustration" width-obs="627" height-obs="452" id="fig93-img" src="images/fig093.jpg" title="[Illustration: Fig. 93.—Street Trees. Norway Maples.]" alt="[Illustration]" /><div class="caption">Fig. 93.—Street Trees. Norway Maples.</div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">4.</td><td class="species">Gingko (Gingko biloba)</td><td class="description">Hardy and absolutely free from insects and disease; suited for narrow streets, and will permit of close planting.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">5.</td><td class="species">European linden (Tilia microphylla)</td><td class="description">Beautiful shade-bearing crown; is very responsive to good soil and plenty of moisture.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">6.</td><td class="species">American elm (Ulmus americana)</td><td class="description">When planted in rows along an avenue, it forms a tall majestic archway of great beauty. It is best suited for wide streets and should be planted further apart than the other trees listed above. Requires a fairly good soil and plenty of moisture, and is therefore not suited for planting in the heart of a large city.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">7.</td><td class="species">Pin oak (Quercus palustris)</td><td class="description">This tree exhibits its greatest beauty when its branches are allowed to droop fairly low. It, moreover, needs plenty of moisture to thrive and the tree is therefore best suited for streets in suburban sections, where these conditions can be more readily met.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">8.</td><td class="species">Red maple (Acer rubrum)</td><td class="description">Beautiful in all seasons of the year; requires a rich soil and considerable moisture.</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="3"><h3>Trees Best for Woodland</h3></th></tr> <tr><th class="subheader" colspan="2">For Open Places</th></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">1.</td><td class="species">Red oak (Quercus rubra)</td><td class="description">Grows rapidly to large size and produces valuable wood; will grow in poor soil.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">2.</td><td class="species">White pine (Pinus strobus)</td><td class="description">Rapid grower; endures but little shade; wood valuable; will do well on large range of soils.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">3.</td><td class="species">Red pine (Pinus resinosa)</td><td class="description">Very hardy; fairly rapid growing tree.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">4.</td><td class="species">Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)</td><td class="description">Grows rapidly into a stately forest tree with a clear tall trunk; wood valuable; requires a fairly moist soil. Use a small tree, plant in the spring, and pay special attention to the protection of the roots in planting.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">5.</td><td class="species">Black locust (Robinia pseudacacia)</td><td class="description">Grows rapidly; adapts itself to poor, sandy soils. The wood is suitable for posts and ties.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">6.</td><td class="species">White ash (Fraxinus americana)</td><td class="description">Grows rapidly; prefers moist situations. Wood valuable.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">7.</td><td class="species">American elm (Ulmus americana)</td><td class="description">Grows rapidly to great height; will not endure too much shade; does best in a deep fertile soil. Wood valuable.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">8.</td><td class="species">European larch (Larix europaea)</td><td class="description">Grows rapidly; prefers moist situations.</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><div class="illustration" id="fig94-box"><ANTIMG class="illustration" width-obs="535" height-obs="680" id="fig94-img" src="images/fig094.jpg" title="[Illustration: Fig. 94.—Woodland Trees. Red Oaks.]" alt="[Illustration]" /><div class="caption">Fig. 94.—Woodland Trees. Red Oaks.</div> </div></td></tr> <tr><th class="subheader" colspan="2">For Planting under the Shade of Other Trees</th></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">9.</td><td class="species">Beech (Fagus)</td><td class="description">Will stand heavy shade; holds the soil well along banks and steep slopes. Both the American and the English species are desirable.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">10.</td><td class="species">Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)</td><td class="description">Will stand heavy shade and look effective in winter as well as in summer.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">11.</td><td class="species">Dogwood (Cornus florida)</td><td class="description">Will grow under other trees; flowers beautifully in the spring and colors richly in the fall.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">12.</td><td class="species">Blue beech (Carpinus caroliniana)</td><td class="description">Native to the woodlands of the Eastern States; looks well in spring and fall.</td></tr> <tr><th colspan="3"><h3>Trees Best for Screening</h3></th></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">1.</td><td class="species">Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)</td><td class="description">Will stand shearing and will screen in winter as well as in summer. Plant from 2 to 4 feet apart to form a hedge.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">2.</td><td class="species">Osage orange (Toxylon pomiferum)</td><td class="description">Very hardy. Plant close.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">3.</td><td class="species">English hawthorn (Cratægus oxyacantha)</td><td class="description">Flowers beautifully and grows in compact masses. Plant close.</td></tr> <tr><td class="ordinal">4.</td><td class="species">Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra var. italica)</td><td class="description">Forms a tall screen and grows under the most unfavorable conditions. Plant 8 to 12 feet apart.</td></tr> </table> Quality of trees: Trees grown in a nursery are preferable for transplanting to trees grown in the forest. Nursery-grown trees possess a well-developed root system with numerous fibrous rootlets, a straight stem, a symmetrical crown, and a well-defined leader. Trees grown in neighboring nurseries are preferable to those grown at great distances, because they will be better adapted to local climatic and soil conditions. The short distances over which they must be transported also will entail less danger to the roots through drying. For lawn planting, the branches should reach low to the ground, while for street purposes the branches should start at about seven feet from the ground. For street planting, it is also important that the stem should be perfectly straight and about two inches in diameter. For woodland planting, the form of the tree is of minor consideration, though it is well to have the leader well defined here as well as in the other cases. See Fig. 95. When and how to procure the trees: The trees should be selected in the nursery personally. Some persons prefer to seal the more valuable specimens with leaden seals. Fall is the best time to make the selection, because at that time one can have a wider choice of material. Selecting thus early will also prevent delay in delivery at the time when it is desired to plant. When to plant: The best time to plant trees is early spring, just before growth begins, and after the frost is out of the ground. From the latter part of March to the early part of May is generally the planting period in the Eastern States. Where one has to plant both coniferous and deciduous trees, it is best to get the deciduous in first, and then the conifers. How to plant: The location of the trees with relation to each other should be carefully considered. On the lawn, they should be separated far enough to allow for the full spread of the tree. On streets, trees should be planted thirty to thirty-five feet apart and in case of the elm, forty to fifty feet. In woodlands, it is well to plant as close as six feet apart where small seedlings are used and about twelve feet apart in the case of trees an inch or more in diameter. An abundance of good soil (one to two cubic yards) is essential with each tree where the specimens used are an inch or two in diameter. A rich mellow loam, such as one finds on the surface of a well-tilled farm, is the ideal soil. Manure should never be placed in direct contact with the roots or stem of the tree. Protection of the roots from drying is the chief precaution to be observed during the planting process, and for this reason a cloudy day is preferable to a sunny day for planting. In case of evergreens, the least exposure of the roots is liable to result disastrously, even more so than in case of deciduous trees. This is why evergreens are lifted from the nursery with a ball of soil around the roots. All bruised roots should be cut off before the tree is planted, and the crown of the tree of the deciduous species should be slightly trimmed in order to equalize the loss of roots by a corresponding decrease in leaf surface. The tree should be set into the tree hole at the same depth that it stood in the nursery. Its roots, where there is no ball of soil around them, should be carefully spread out and good soil should be worked in carefully with the fingers among the fine rootlets. Every root fibre is thus brought into close contact with the soil. More good soil should be added (in layers) and firmly packed about the roots. The last layer should remain loose so that it may act as a mulch or as an absorbent of moisture. The tree should then be thoroughly watered. <div class="illustration" id="fig95-box"> <ANTIMG class="illustration" width-obs="645" height-obs="789" id="fig95-img" src="images/fig095.png" title="[Illustration: Fig. 95.—Specifications for a Street Tree.]" alt="[Illustration]" /> <div class="caption">Fig. 95.—Specifications for a Street Tree.</div> </div> After care: During the first season the tree should be watered and the soil around its base slightly loosened at least once a week, especially on hot summer days. Where trees are planted on streets, near the curb, they should also be fastened to stakes and protected with a wire guard six feet high. See Fig. 95. Wire netting of ½-inch mesh and 17 gauge is the most desirable material. <div class="illustration" id="fig96-box"> <ANTIMG class="illustration" width-obs="625" height-obs="453" id="fig96-img" src="images/fig096.jpg" title="[Illustration: Fig. 96.—A Home Nursery. (Austrian pines in front.)]" alt="[Illustration]" /> <div class="caption">Fig. 96.—A Home Nursery. (Austrian pines in front.)</div> </div> Suggestions for a home or school nursery: Schools, farms, and private estates may conveniently start a tree nursery on the premises and raise their own trees. Two-year seedling trees or four-year transplants are best suited for this purpose. These may be obtained from several reliable nurseries in various parts of the country that make a specialty of raising small trees for such purposes. The cost of such trees should be from three to fifteen dollars per thousand. The little trees, which range from one to two feet in height, will be shipped in bundles. Immediately upon arrival, the bundles should be untied and the trees immersed in a pail containing water mixed with soil. The bundles should then be placed in the ground temporarily, until they can be set out in their proper places. In this process, the individual bundles should be slanted with their tops toward the south, and the spot chosen should be cool and shady. At no time should the roots of these plants be exposed, even for a moment, to sun and wind, and they should always be kept moist. The little trees may remain in this trench for two weeks without injury. They should then be planted out in rows, each row one foot apart for conifers and two feet for broadleaf trees. The individual trees should be set ten inches apart in the row. Careful weeding and watering is the necessary attention later on. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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