SB 436 .N5 Rank fl c^ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/plantingcareofshOOnewj The Planting and Care of Shade Trees ~fe^- New Jersey Forest Commission FOREST PARK RESERVATION COMMISSION OF NEW JERSEY ft The Planting and Care of SHADE TREES By Alfred Gaskill, State Forester, INCLUDING PAPERS ON Insects Injurious to Shade Trees By John B. Smith, State Entomologist, AND Diseases of Shade and Forest Trees By Mel. T. Cook, State Plant Pathologist. TRENTON, N. J. State Gazette Publishing Co., Printers. 1912. r^^^^ ^ ^ The Forest Park Reservation Commission. I-Iou. AVOODROW WILSON, Governor, ex-officio President. HENRY B. KUMMEL, Trenton, Executive Officer. ELMER H. SMITH, Salem. CHARLES L. PACK, Lakewood. WILLIAM ^Y. SMALLEY, Bound Brook. ALFRED GASKILL, Trenton, Forester and Secretary. JAjMES .0. HAZARD, Trenton, Assistant Forester. CHARLES P. WILBER. Trenton, State Firewarden. Office, State House, Trenton. lEC h' "V 2G or i Illustrations. PAGE. Fig. 1.— Elms 30 years old ^5 Fig. 2. — Too much shade ^ Plate I. — Shade trees good and bad 11 Fig. 3. — Residence street insufficiently shaded 12 Fig. 4. — Street newly planted 15 Fig. 5. — Diagram — How trees should be placed 10 Fig. G. — Young tree as received from the nursery IS Fig. 7. — Same with top and roots pruned IS Fig. 8. — Diagram — How to plant a street tree 20 Plate II. — Types of tree guards and gratings Fig. 9. — Exposed roots tolerable Fig. 10. — A tree choked by a guy wire Fig. 11. — Guard a tree thus if it must anchor a guy 27 Fig. 12. — Trees guarded while building goes on 28 Fig. 13. — How lack of system gives a poor effect 31 Fig. 14. — Trees on curb and inside footway contrasted 33 Fig. l.j. — Old trees on a new grade and with cabled wires through their crowns 34 Fig. 16. — Abrasion movilding 36 Fig. 17. — Dense crowned Norv\-ay maple 37 Fig. 18. — Norway maple after an interior pruning 37 Fig. 19. — Butchered maples 40 Fig. 20. — Diagram — How to doctor a tree 42 Fig. 21. — Cavities from untreated wounds 44 Fig. 22. — Pruning wounds completely healed 44 Plate III. — Tree wounds filled and unfilled 47 Fig. 23. — Trees saved by mounding and raising curb 50 Fig. 24.— A tree "well"' 51 Fig. 25. — Street grade raised without injuring trees 51 Fig. 26. — Trees in gutter and on sidewalk 54 Fig. 27. — A w-ell shaded lawn made from native forest near the sea. 55 Fig. 28. — Street lines accommodated to shade trees 58 Fig. 29. — Elm standing in roadway 60 Fig. 30.— Trees left above grade 62 Plate R'. — Insects injurious to shade trees 70 Plate Y. Insects injurious to shade trees 71 Fig. 31. — The maple pseudococcus 77 Fig. 32.— The San Jose scale 79 Fig. 33.— A soft scale 81 Fig. 34. — The maple-tree sesiid 82 Fig. 35. — Work of the hickory bark beetle 85 Fig. 36. — Chestnut leaf spot 95 Fig. 37.— Chestnut tree nearly dead of blight 100 Fig. .88. — Section of chestnut killed by blight 101 Fig. 39. — White pine blister rust 104 Fig. 40. — Fomes igniarius 108 Fig. 41. — Polyporus sulfureus 110 Fig. 42. — Polystictus versicolor 113 Fig. 43. — Armillaria mellea 115 Introductory. The iirst two of this series of papei:s, with one on Fungi of Xative and Shade Trees, by Dr. Bjron D. Halsted, were originally published in the report of the Forest Park Reserva- tion Commission of Xew Jersey for 1908. Appreciative de- mands having exhausted the edition, Mr. Charles Lathroi) Pack, a member of the Forest Commission, and a well known pioneer in Forest Conservation, generously offered to de- fray the cost of a new issue. This offer was accepted and the Forest Commission has caused two of the papers to be thor- oughly revised and a new one dealing with tree diseases to be prepared by the recently appointed State Plant Pathologist. The State is committed to the policy of protecting, improv- ing and increasing the number of its shade trees. This btil- letin is published under the direction of the '- ...-,■. Authority. Forest Park Reservation Commission with the co-operation of the Trustees of the State Agricultural Ex- periment Station. Each paper is by an acknowledged au- thor! tv in his line. Fig. 1. Elms ;-50 years old, well placed, well spaced, well guarded. (Courtesy of U. 8. Forest Service.) Shade Tkees. The reader is reminded that none of the Scope. . „ . papers pretends to be exhaustive ot its subject; each deals in the briefest possible waj^ with the things that concern the trees of the State, and aims to tell what to avoid as well as what must be done. The bulletin will serve as a manual to those who are accustomed to working with trees, and Avill guide those who seek to travel an unknown, though it may be an attractive, path. More detailed information will be found in the books listed on page 123, though for any important work tree owners are advised to seek the assistance of a reputable tree planter, tree doctor, arborist or forester. The Agricultural Experiment Station and the .Forest Com- mission have lists of such and will furnish them upon request. assistance Both offices are prepared to give advice by offered. mail Oil any matter relating to trees, and, when necessary, either will have a competent man make an ex- amination aud report. Any municipal body, as a shade tree commission, or the managers of a public institution, will be aided without charge; individuals will ordinarily be re- quired to pay the consultant's expenses, but not his salary. The Planting and Care of Shade Trees. By Alfked Gaskill and Ja^ies O. Hazard, Foresters. I^ew Jersey is fortunate in having a soil and climate so favorable that many species of trees can be grown in any part of it, or some species found for almost any situation. It must be ure'ed, hov^^ever, that only a few trees con.utious . , • T,' • 1 l^^T favorable vv^ithstand the trying conditions imposed by „„,! „„. city streets and buildings, or the rigors of the sea coast. Attention is, therefore, given chiefly to street trees, for the number which may be grown successfully on any well kept lawn, even in a city, is very great. Upwards of forty species are found in more or less thrifty condition on the street, parking and lawns within two blocks of the State I-Touse, and many more might be planted that would do as well. Street Trees. There is little use trying experiments with trees for^ street planting. At the best, a tree on a city street is out of its ele- ment and at a disadvantage ; chose, therefore,^ amongst the few that are known to thrive under your conditions, get good trees, plant them carefully, and take care of them. REQUIREMENTS. A street tree should be chosen for its (1) Form, (2) Hardi- ness or AdaptaUlitv, (3) RapidHy of Growth, (4) Shade Production, (5) Neatness, (6) Beauty; the various qualities ranking in about the order given. 1. Form is placed first because, no matter how good the 8 - Shade Teees. tree, il is a failure if it does not fit the situation. By careful pruning almost any tree can be made to grow upright, or to develo]:» a broad crown, but it is much better to chose a species that naturally takes the desired form. Trees are beautiful, or otherwise, as they harmouize with their surroundings. On narrow streets with houses close to the curb only slen- der trees of moderate height growth should be planted. I\ed maple, red gum, ginkgo, are good. For wider streets, or those with parking in front of the houses, larger trees like T^orway maple, basswood, horse chestnut, or pin oak, may be chosen. Wide avenues should be dignified with the most majestic trees — ^white elm, white oak, red oak, tulip poplar. 2. Hardiness and Adaptability are qualities of prime im- portance in a street tree. Under any circumstances care- ful consideration must be given to the native soil, the pave- ment, the nearness of buildings, as well as to the vigor of the tree itself and its ]:)ower to adapt itself to unusual strains. Strength to withstand the pressure of wind, snow, ice, etc., abilitv to recover from mechanical iniuries, and A street . " , . ., tree must resistaucc to insect attack and to disease are also be resistiiut. , factors. JNo tree at all susceptible to frost should be j3lanted in this State. Sweet gum grows well in clay but not in sand ; sugar maple and basswood suffer from leaf burn when over a smooth, light colored pavement; horse chestnut is apt to be infested with insects and fungi. 3. Bapidify of Groivth. To most people who plant trees that which grows most rapidly is best. Thus our streets are filled with silver maples, box elders and cottonwoods instead of JSTorway maples, oaks and elms. Quick growing trees are desirable, yet it is a fact that those which grow most rapidly Qiiiek are commonly the shortest lived. Plant silver trees are maple Or cottouwood if you must have a good lived. sized tree in a hurry, but don't forget that it will have to be replaced when a jSTorway maple, a red oak, or a sycamore is at its" best. And bear in mind that cultivation and care will make any good tree grow comparatively rapidly. A red oak well nurtured will increase in size faster than a maple that is neglected and abused. Stkeet Tekes. Fig. 2. A good row of trees but houses too much shaded. See Figs. 4 and 14. 4. Shade Production. On many streets it is easily pos- sible to have too much shade. (Fig. 2.) Houses and side- walks need sun e^'en in summer ; therefore, on narrow streets trees Avith light foliage, like the locusts and ashes, Avill usually be better than the denser crowned maples, etc. Early leafing is never desirable. 5. Neatness. A tree is a nuisance Avhen it litters the street with its bloom or fruit, sends up many suckers, heaves the pavement by its superficial roots, emits an offensive odor, or attracts insects. Cottonwoods or poplars are, therefore, to be avoided because, among other tunt are reasons, they cover the ground with their bloom in the spring ; silver maples will break up any pavement ; ailanthus has a very bad smell for several weeks each year unless the trees bear pistillate flowers only; mulberry has a fruit which when crushed makes the sidewalks slippery and dangerous. 10 ' Shade Trees. PLATE I. Shade Trees Good and Bad in one New Jersey City. A. Extreme Neglect ; the Pole Looks Better Than the Tree. B. No Tree can Thrive Where the Pavement is so Close. C. A Street Tree that is Bad in Every Way ; It Forlis too low and has no growing space. D. A Worse than Useless Guard. It is too low to prevent horse- biting, and so small that the tree is choired. E. A Newly-planted Tree Protected by a Guard that is Entirely too Light, and with no Growing Space. F. A Guard Outgrown and Sidewalk Displaced by Root Growth. G. A Good Temporary Guard, but too Light to last Long. Grow- ing space much too small. H. A Good Guard but Evidently not Placed Until After the Tree had been Badly Injured by Horses. Growing space en- tirely too small. I. A Tree Well Guarded and Well Provided with Growing Space. J. A Thriving Street Tree. It has a fair growing space and is sufficiently guarded with wire. K. A Growing Space like that Provided for this Tree Interferes Little with the Footway. ''■s^-^'-'M j<^b=c^-==403^==^])==^, Plate I. See descrijjtions opposite. 1 '> Shade Tkees. 6. Beauty. The idea of beauty in a tree is satisfied when it is normal in form, vigorous in growth, healthy, and suitably placed. Street trees always suffer by contrast with those in natural situations, yet when arranged harmoniously in well- spaced rows, the uniformity of the trees matching the uni- ,^ ^ . formity of the street, most satisfactory results Uniformity. "^ . , ' '' are obtained. This rule demands that all the trees on a street, or at any rate all in a block, shall be of the same kind and as near alike as possible in size and shape. See -Figs. 1 and 4. In choosing shade trees, it is always proper to consider the buds, twigs, flowers, fruit and coloring of the leaves. The pendant, spiky balls of the red gum are as at- tractive through the winter as its brilliantly colored leaves in the fall. Of all the trees fit for street plant- ing the most gorgeous are the maples in their autumn dress. The spring beauty of the horse chestnut in bloom is largely offset by its dilapidated appearance in early autumn, when most other trees are still fresh. Fruits, flo^vers, color. Fig 3. A residence street insufficiently shaded. See Figs. 4 and 26. Steeet Teees, 13 WHAT TO PLANT. The list of trees cajDable of meetiag the conditions in a citj street is not long; it might indeed be cnrtailed to less than a dozen. . Evergreens are excluded altogether because their shade is not wanted in winter. The fol- Evei-sreeus lowing list is arranged to show the trees best ex. subject to injury and shade the sidewall^ and the houses rather than the road. See Fig. 14. Footing or Growing Space. As explained on page 24, every tree planted should have at least 6 square feet of open earth above its roots. If the sidewalks and roadway are paved with concrete this is even more important than where bricks, or other jointed materials are used. On Give a tree narrow sidewalks the space may have to be """o™- limited to fi-o feet by 4 feet, but with that as a minimum strive for openings 3x8 feet, or better still, a continuous park- ing. Figs. 8, 14, 26, Plates I, II. THE TREE. Be sure to get healthy, well shaped trees. It is a waste of money and time to set the poor deformed things that nursery- men sometimes supply. Wild trees can be used, but they are less apt to withstand the shock of moving than those that Iiave been transplanted once or twice. Don't seek cheap trees ; get them from a responsible nurseryman. Size. It is often possible to set out trees as much as 12 inches in diameter, but the cost increases much more rapidly than the size. As a rule the stems of the trees should be be- tween 2 inches and 3 inches in diameter, and about 12 feet tall. This serves pretty well the common desire for early results at a reasonable cost. Roots. Move a tree with as many roots as possible. It may grow if only the stubs of the main roots are saved ; it Avill do much better if the whole root work Avithin a radius of 2 feet is taken; give especial care 1o the finer spnre the rootlets, they are the ones that do the feeding. ' """o***- Kever let them get dry ; a dry root is dead ! 2 18 Shade Trees. Fig. 6. Young tree as received from the nursery. ^E- ^r Fig. 7. Same with top and roots pruned. Crown. Preserve the normal crown, or the form de- veloped in the nursery, if possible, if the root system has been much curtailed it will be necessary to cut back the crown to maintain a balance between roots and foliage, yet this balance is much better kept by saving roots than by sacrific- ing branches. (Figs. 6, 7, 8.) Grood trees rarely come from Expand tbe the bcau polcs that are often planted. The crown. lower brauclies of a street tree should be not less than 10 feet above the sidewalk. While it is small something less may be jjermitted, but sufficient headroom should always be allowed passers-by. If this is not done the tree is sure to be injured. Observe how the branches bend when the leaves are ivet wdth rain and give plenty of room for umbrellas. See Pruning, page 37. THE HOLE. Before a tree to be planted is brought on the ground have the hole mad-e ready for it. If the site is on "made'.' ground take out at least a cubic yard of the rubbish and provide as mucli good loam. Then prepare the planting liole, by dig- ging or bv filling as the case mav be, so that it shall be some- what larger than the root area, and about a foot deeper than the roots. On the bottom spread a layer of fine, mellow soil S.TEEET Trees. 19 mixed with one-third its hulk of well rotted (not fresh) stable manure. Have the space SeVr"*' ahove this bed just deep enough to accommodate " *''''^' the roots and allow the tree to stand about 2 inches deeper than it did in the nursery — not more. PLANTING. If a choice is allowed always transplant a tree on a cloudy day; a bright sun quickly exhausts the stored up moisture. But whenever the tree arrives get it into the groimd without delay. Thoroughly wet the earth in the hole that has been prepared, set in the tree and spread out the roots so that they lie naturally and are not crossed. Cut off with a sharp knife all that are broken or badly bruised. A mutilated root in- vites decay. Then till in finely pulverized earth, work it under and around the roots by hand, and compact it firmly. Do not let any manure come in contact with the roots. If the earth is wetted down as it is put in it v/ill make a much better contact. Fill the hole to the ground level when well com- pacted, then rake over the surface and pulverize it to a depth of about an inch. Two points are very important : keep the tree vertical and be sure that all the roots are well embedded. It is possible to injure the roots by making the earth about them too hard, yet more trees are lost through i^,,,^,^ faulty root bedding than in any other way. *«*"'• ^o^^^et. Eemember that a tree feeds by its roots; to do that every smallest rootlet must be firmly in the soil. When planted tie the tree to a strongly set stake, or place the guard about it at once. 20 Shade Trees. WELL DEVELOPED HEAD. GOOD LEADER, MAIN BRANCHES FORMING WIDE, NOT CLOSE. ANGLES WITH STEM. STAKE 2i INCHES BY 10 FEET DRIVEN 2 FEET IN GROUND. RUBBER COVERED WIRE, OR CANVAS, BINDER. TREE PRUNED AS ORDINARILY REQUIRED. IF ROOTS ARE FULL CROWN NEED BE LE5S CURTAILED. BASE OF PERMANENT CROWN 10 FEET ABOVE PAVEMENT. BED DUG OUT 18 INCHES DEEP. THEN FILLED TO LOWER ROOT LEVEL WITH MIXTURE OF ^ GOOD SOIL AND^ ROTTED MANURE. BASE OF TEMPORARY CROWN 7 FEET ABOVE PAVEMENT. MULCH OF PULVEBI2ED EARTH. PLENTY OF FIBROUS ROOTS. BROKEN ROOTS CUTOFF SMOOTH. RICH EARTH PACKED FIRMLY ALL ABOUT ROOTS. Fig. 8. Diagram— How to plant a street tree. It is Important to Observe Every Point Indicated in the Diagram. Street Trees. 21 CARE OF TREES. Xo tree on a citv street can look ont for itself ; it must be taken care of. This involves protection against injury of every kind, provision for necessary nourishment, and, at times, some help to ward off insects or disease. GUARDS. The first needs of a newly planted street tree are a stake to keejj it upright, and a guard to protect it against horse-biting, wheel scraping and all mechanical injury. Young trees are best protected by devices which serve as well for support, as the ugly, but practical, box used in Washington, D. C. (Plate II. C.) Those that are established need only a shield against horses and accidents, or none at all if the police regu- lations are enforced. Various forms of guards _ ,. . -, Police regii- are shown in Plate IT. Any of these is good lation better r- n • 1 IT than me- hut unless it is stroneiy fixed m the ground the chanicai guards. young tree should be fastened to a stout stake as in Fig. 8. In binding a tree to a stake, or to a guard, the bark must be shielded against rubbing. For this purpose wire covered with rubber hose is much better than cords. Don't let a tree break loose from its guards. It will get be- yond the need of support in a year or two, but will always be subject to abrasion. As the tree grows see that its guard and fastenings do not cramp it. Keep the guard painted and in good repair. The necessity for constantly looking after tree oiiards shows how much the trees would suifer without them. (See Plate I.) 22 Shade Tkees. PLATE II. Types of Tree Guards and Gratings. All but cut G from photographs by Dr. W. A. Murrill, of the New York Botanic Gardens. A. Tree Guard and Bench. London. B. Young Sycamore with Pole Support, Wire Guard and Grat- ing. Paris. The enlarged bases of the guards in cuts B. H. I., and the sheet iron on the guard in cut F, are to protect the trees from dogs. C. The Standard Guard used in Washington, D. C. This is strongly made of wood, is firmly fastened to four diagonal stakes driven into the gTound, and, by leather bands at the top, supports the tree as well as protects it. These guards are unsightly and harbor insects, but they are always re- moved after the tree is well established. D. A Simple Guard of Wire Netting. Washington, D. C. This, and all kinds of metal guards, are now being discarded and the older trees left to the protection afforded by stringent police regulations and systematic inspection. E. A Guard of Pine Poles. Berlin. Not so cheap here as in Germany and otherwise not desirable. P. Wire Guard with Sheet-Iron Base to protect the tree from dogs. Fraiikfort, a. m. G. A Neat Iron Guard but too Light to last Long. Trenton, N. J. Contrast small growing space with spaces shown in other pictures. H. Y'oung Tree with Wooden Support, Iron Guard and Grating. Berlin. I. Older Tree with Guard and Grating. Paris. Contrast large grating in concrete pavement with smaller grating in broken stone pavement, cut H. Plate II. See descriptions opposite. 24 Shade Tbees. Gratings. Tn soiue cities the bases of trees are protected and their roots given air, by means of iron gratings set in openings in the pavement. Plate II. shoves a number of these. In exposed situations these gratings are valuable, but apart fro]n their considerable cost they mast be rai?3d frequently and the space cleaned out. It is well to avoid their use as far as possible. NOURISHMENT. More street trees sufl'er from starvation than from anything else. In many places food, water and air are all denied ; and the greater part of the harm is done by laying the pavement close to the tree. Don't plant a street tree unless it can have six square feet of open earth at its base. In Washington, D. C, the regulation openings are 3 feet by 8 feet, or 24 square feet. (Plate II.) A generous space of earth about a tree is absolutely necessary for health. While a tree is young the soil in this opening should be stirred frequently Tree roots to admit air and control evaporation ; after it need air. bccouies of good sizc grass may be allowed to cover the opening although constant cultivation will stimulate growth. In summer if rain does not fall for several weeks the tree should have water, for pavement, sidewalk and house fronts become so heated that the evaporation from the leaves is greatly increased. Unless the water thus drawn off is re- placed the tree suffers. A thorough saturation of the soil every week or ten days is better than more frequent sprink- ling. A good plan is to build an earth dam about the tree, three or four feet from its base, or as near that as the pave- pienty of mout will permit, and fill the enclosed space water. with watcr, several times if necessary. When the water has all been absorbed, and the top soil is dry, break down the dam and spread the pulverized earth over the wetted area. That will retard evaporation. Be careful not to water so frequently that the earth becomes soggy and sour. Sttjeet Trees. 25 Trees need food as iiiueli as animals. In the forest they get what thev require from the decaying leaves and other litter; along unpaved roads they nsiially are fertilized from the organic matter washed into the gutters, but on paved streets all this is gathered up and taken away. This de- ficiency can easily be supplied, howe^'er, by a little old stable manure spread over the open space in spring peea your and worked into the soil with a fork or rake, or *ree.s. it can be heaped about the tree o^-er winter and removed in the spring. If the exposed manure is objectionable a com- mercial fertilizer may be substituted. For light soils mix equal weights of nitrate of soda, acid phosphate, muriate of potash, and ground bone and aj^ply in the spring at the rate of from 1 to li/o pounds of the mixture to 100 square feet of exposed soil. This equals from iy_i to 2 ounces for a tree with a footing of 8 square feet. For heavy clay soils mix 2 parts nitrate of soda, 3 parts acid phosphate, 1 part muriate of potash, 2 parts bone meal. Apply at the same rate as the above. In either case distribute the fertilizer evenly and mix it thoroughly with the soil. Be careful not to use too much else the tree roots may be burned. Where it is inad- visable to break the sod, or to work the soil, beneath a tree make holes with a crowbar about six inches deep and two or three feet apart and fill them with this mixture. The task of nourishing a tree properly is not so simple as these instructions seem to make it, but nothing more specific can be said without considering the natural soil and the kind of tree. The essential point is that trees need nourishment and need reasonable care. Thin foliage, slender branches, and dead tops (commonly called stag-head) are all signs of starvation and must be heeded or the whole tree will die. 2(5 Shade Trees. Fig. 9. Such exposure of roots is bad, but may be tolerated until a new tree can be established. INJURIES. All street trees are subject to injury of many kinds other than those against which ordinary guards are provided. It is the duty of every owner who occupies s]iace on the sidewalk to maintain a good tree, to co-operate with his neigh- bors, the Shade Tree Commission or other local authority, and with the public service corporations that also use the streets, to the end that injuries of every kind may be avoided or promptly remedied. The principle that shade trees have a direct bearing upon property values is well established in this State, and one who v„i„e suffers loss can recover far more than the wood of trees. value of a killed tree or the cost of a new one. JSTevertheless contests should be avoided, and in the follow- ing pages an effort is made to show how all interests can be harmonized as well as how various kinds of injuries should be treated. Street Tkees. 27 Construction and Building. Shade trees have no proper part in any construction work, whether of street, sidewalk or building. When thev stand near by provision must be made to secure them against in- jury, otherwise they are sure to be dauiaged. Most of the things to be looked after may be summarized as don'ts. Don't allow any guy wire or rope to be fas- tened to a tree. But if this cannot be avoided be sure that the tree is amply protected by wood blocks as shown in Fig. 11. A pretended guard of sacking as shown in Fig. 10 is of no value. Don'ts. 10. A tree choked by a guy wire. Fh 11. Guard a tree thus if it must anchor a guv. Don't allow a tree to be used as part of a scaifold ; it can always be avoided. Don't allow bricks, stone or any building material to be piled against a tree unless strong wooden guards are placed about it. See Fig. 12. Don't allow piles of sand, stone, etc., to stand long about the base of a tree; such material will rob the roots of air the same as a close paA'ement. See page 24. Don't allow a mortar bed where water saturated with lime can flow from it to the ground about a tree ; the roots cannot stand it. 28 Shade Tkees. Fig. 12. Every tree well guarded against injury while building goes on. Paris. Photo by Dr. W. A. Murrill. Salt. Salt in excess is fatal to tvee roots. Be careful if it is used to melt ice on the sidewalk, and don't allow brine from an ice cream tub to be emptied near a tree. Gas. Illuminating gas from defective mains is a common cause of injury to street trees. Otber gases, especially sulfurous acid, when discharged into the air in large quantity may damage or kill them, but this happens only near chemical works and under conditions not at all common. If a buried gas pipe is not pei'fectly tight the escaping gas poisons the soil about it and affects nearby trees more or less seriously in proportion to the quantity of gas discharged into the soil pene- trated by the roots. Thus, other things being equal, the nearer a tree is to a leak, the greater lhe danger that it will Street Trees. 29 be killed and the quicker the poison will act. Conversely a small leak, or one at some distance from a tree, may indnce so slow an action that the real canso of the tree's failure cannot be determined. The activity of gas poison depends also upon the character of the soil, the material of which the road and sidewalk are made, the species and the vigor of the tree. For instance, clay soil will allow gas to escape from it less quickly than sand, but if the road surface above it is gas tight tree roots in either will have little chance. !N'ot infrequently an actual leak can be lo- Locatius iated by observing that trees and other vegeta- tion are affected with ^-ariable severity within a circle having a radius up to one hundred feet. The source of the trouble will be found near the center of the circle and near the tree that suffers most. A poison case may develop so rapidly from a large, sudden leak that se^^eral trees will be killed within a day or two. Ordinarily, however, leaks are small and the poison spreads slowly. Sometimes only a part of a single tree is affected. But it is often difficult to establish a case of signs of poison because most of the evidences may be ^"* vo^^on. produced by other causes. If, however, the leaves develop less size than usual, or wilt after they unfold — usually be- ginning at the ends of the branches — or if they droop sud- denly in mid-season, a gas case may be suspected. Later and surer sigTis are dark blue stains in the inner bark. These stains will often be foimd in the roots when they do not ap- pear in the body. Loosening of the bark usually follows death, whether gas or something else be the cause. One who is not expert should hesitate to declare a case of this kind. The odor of gas is the surest guide to its presence. If that, or a failing tree, indicates a leaky main drive a crowbar three feet into the ground as nearly as possible over the joint that may be faulty. Then withdraw it and put your nostrils to the hole. Don't try with a match for that may cause an ex]:)losion. If gas is present lose no time in having the leaky joint, or joints, exposed and made tight'. Where trees are endangered it is important to free the soil of poison at 30 Shade Trees. once. Ordinarily all this will be done by employes of Gls^elm" ^^^*^ ^'^^ company if the case is reported directly •»«»?'• to headquarters, for any gas company wants to a^oid claims for damages on account of leaks, it also wants to stop the loss that leaks occasion. It is possible to make this positive statement because gas superintendents in this State have repeatedly sought advice of the Forest Commis- sion, or of Shade Tree Commissions, have followed the recom- mendations made, and in numerous cases have settled claims for damage on the basis of the opinion rendered. The Forest Commission is always willing to help adjust differences of this kind provided both parties wish it and agree to accept the forester's decision. How to ^^ ^ ^I'fs ^^s been poisoned by gas, but is not save a tree. killed wheu the leak is found and stopped, it may sometimes be saved by digging a trench about it, on the gas side at least, as deep as and including the gas main and from six to ten feet from the trunk, and leaving the trench open for at least a month. If rain does not fall plentifully water the earth about the tree roots. This will give the confined gas a chance to escape. Of course care must be taken that the tree is not so dug out that it will be overthrown, and thiu the earth from the trench is thrown away from, not towards, the tree. All this may be difficult in a crowded street, but is the only remedy. If the tree shows signs of reviving let the out-thro^^m soil be worked over several times and thoroughly aerated, or better carted away and replaced by fresh, then fortified by one-fifth its bulk of well rotted compost and the trench filled up. Stimulate the tree further by a top dressing spread within the trench line as advised on page 25. In some cases a severe pruning of the crown will aid recovery by reducing the strain on the root system. Un- less a tree is dry and has no signs of life in buds or stem don't conclude that it is dead until it has passed a summer after being affected. Xature is full of resources, and often seems to make light of serious injuries. On the other hand spring sometimes s'ives a semblance of life to a tree that is actuallv Street Teees. 31 dead by developing winter buds into foliage that is apparently normal. When a tree is dead remove it, and before ]3lanting another in its place change the soil or freshen it as directed above. Fig. 13. How lack of system gives a poor effect. Trees of all kinds, shapes and conditions. Contrast Figs. 1 and 4. Electric Wires. Contrary to the common belief electric v^ires Rarely are rarely directly harmful to trees. They are 'larnifni. objectionable chiefly because the workmen who look after them are careless or indifferent and do unnecessary damage. The current in a telephone wire is too weak to be injurious under any circumstances, while a lighting wire Aitemat- carrying an alternating current will injure the rect"eur-'" living tissue of a tree only when wet weather ^ents. and the loss of insulation make possible a close contact. Most of the injury done to trees comes when a high tension direct current escapes, as from a trolley feed wire, and burns the tree at the point of contact or is grounded through its trunk. 32 Shade Trees. In the latter case a tree may be killed as by a lightning bolt. But injuries of this kind are too rare to require special con- sideration. Moreover, the management of no electric com- pany will long neglect a contact that means a loss of energy in its lines. grmmci ^^ will be admitted that overhead wires are practicable objcctionable in any organized community and where sliould be put Underground wherever it is prac- ticable. Let every effort be made to extend the territory within which all wires must be carried out of sight, but at the same time let the facts as they affect most tree interests be not forgotten. These are that electric service is indis- pensable, that the electric companies have certain defined, rights in many streets, that private, municipal and corporate interests are more often served by agreement and compromise How to har- than by contest. And it is always easier to ad- !^dV"l^rins* i^^st a matter of this kind before a franchise is interests. granted, or before Vv^ork is begun, than after an installation is in place. The following suggestions may help to resolve various difficulties in connection with shade trees: 1. If wires are to be extended to a street not previously served, seek by agreement to have the poles set behind the houses rather than in front. This is often difficult, as where the street lights are on a high tension circuit of build- while the houses are served from a low tension, or it may be impracticable for other reasons. jSTevertheless it cair bo accomplished in some cases, especially if the property owners are reasonable with respeci to allowing linemen free access to the poles, and provision is made for crossing intersecting streets. 2. If wir(\s are to be run on a shaded street where they have not been before, try to ha^"e the itoles set on one side or the other of the tree line, preferably next the curb. (See Fig. 14.) Steeet Tkees. 33 Fig. 14. Trees on curb, A, must compete with electric wires. Those inside walk, B, have head-room. Note fine row, ( ■, protected from street by sidewalk. above or around trees. 3. If lighting wires must be run with a line of trees con- sider whether they shall be carried on high poles over the trees, on crossarras projecting into the street, or through the bodies of the trees. The chief objection to the first plan, next to its unsightliness, is that the growth of the trees will almost surely bring the upper shoots into contact with the wires and thereby cause them to be broken and wiring,- the tree croAvns distorted. At the same time the wires will be disturbed, and the current per- haps grounded. This is rarely a good plan. Carrying wires on projecting crossarms is objectionable because it interferes with the freedo7n of the roadway, and looks badly. The de- vice should be resorted to only in exceptional cases. As a rule it W'ill be found most practical and most „,. . satisfactory to carry wires through the bodies through ^ ./ ~ trees, of trees and quite low down. They must be insulated, of course, but when that is done properly the trees will not be injured and the wires themselves will be less dis- turbed bv the normal tree movements. Trolley feed wires 34 Sua OK Tkkks. sluniM alwavs l>o pro|Hn-l_v insulaUHi and (.-ari-iod as low down as i.< practicablo. 4. T(dopliouo wiros should ahvavs Ik oarriod ihrouiih the AViros In lowov jHU't ious ol" t ivos. aud wliou iliovo avo sov- *■"*•'''"• oral bo uuitod in a cable. (^See Fig. lo.") Ir is not |M'aetieahli> [o oaMo high tension wires. Fig. 15. CMd trees (.\ IX K. on a new o-radt? and with cabled wires throiigli their oi-owns. New trees shonUi be phuited at X. X, X, and when they are grown the oUl ones removeii. o. it Tv«.vs are lo be planred in a street where the only available room is already oeenpied bv wires, that is a street with little space between the curbs and bnihiing lines, there are jnst three conrses open: one. to indnee the electric com- pany to remove the wires before the trees are set: tiro, to gx^t an agTcement that they will be removed or raised at a fixed time in the futnre, or when the tives shall have groAvn so that tree shoots and wires interfeiv : three, to |\lant low growing trees and by prnning keep them below the wires. The last is often a good plan, as big trees are ont of place in a narrow street. Plant low trees. Steket Trees. 35 "With respect to the damage done by linemen there is now less ground for complaint than do^^by there formerlj was. N'evertheless such men ""^™^"- will bear watching, and should be given to understand that they will be held responsible for any injury. There is ample law and precedent in the State to prevent injury in this way, as well as to secure redress if the property owner will trouble himself to protest and, if enough necessary, to prosecute his claim. It will not *o^^a>-d aii often be needful to go further than to make a formal complaint or claim; corporations dislike litigation and will satisfy any just demand. Two points only need be obsserved: 1. Forbid absolutely the use of climbing spurs; they are unnecessary in tree work, and every time they break the bark give disease germs a chance to enter. And forbid a workman to go into a tree, even by a ladder, with his spurs on; they will damage the bark on the branches. 2. Eequire the man in charge of the work strictly to observe the rules of the isTational Electric Light Association. These rules have been adopted by most of the telephone, telegraph and lighting companies, and in themselves prove that the officials are ready to do their share to avoid trouble. The most important of the rules are : * "11. Wires shall be struug- on the side of the street most free from trees." "66. Guy wires shall not be attached to trees wjthout the permission of the owner or other proper authority." "68. Tree trunks and limbs shall always be protected from injury by the use of tree blocks between the tree and the wire attached thereto." "8.3. Line wires shall not be supported upon trees." "89. It is essential for the safe and uninterrupted ^Virlng operation of lines that they be free from possibility of """ ^** grounding on trees. It is therefore important that tree branches inter- fering, or likely to interfere, with the lines should be cut away. Such trimming must be done with care and judgment, and under the super- vision of the superintendent, line foreman, or other responsible person." *From report of Committee on Overhead Line Extension. New York, June 2d, 1911. 3G Shade Teees. "90. Before any trimming is done the consent of tlie owner of the tree should be obtained.* Opposition to tree trimming may sometimes be over- come by offering to employ a professional gardener for this purpose. If consent to trim trees cannot be obtained, and the interfering branches cannot be avoided by the use of longer crossarms, or by offsetting the standard crossanns, tree wire shall be used." "91. The stubs of branches shall always be painted for their protection and to make them less noticeable." "94. Where tree wire is used, if there is danger of limbs or large branches chafing the insulation, it shall be protected by means of wooden abrasion moulding." Fig 16. Abrasion moulding - used to protect trees and wires. (Courtesy of National Electric Light Assn.) Insects, Diseases. These subjects are presented fully by Dr. Smith aud Dr. Cook in their accompanying papers. Abrasions, Hoese Bites. A tree whose bark is broken is hastened towards an early death. Prevent such injuries by guards and by police regu- lations. Be particular about the lawn mower. Half our shade trees are repeatedly bumped and permanently injured through wounds made at their bases. (See page 54.) If a tree is so damaged have it treated promptly as directed on page 44 and Fig. 20. ♦Where there is a Shade Tree Commission it has authority above the owner and will help to adjust differences. Steeet Teees. 37 PRUNING. Under normal conditions a tree needs little or no pruning but, at least until it gets ragged from age, is best left to de- velop its natural form. Shade trees, however, frequently re- quire pruning to adapt them to their surroundings and to maintain a healthy growth. A tree does not de^^elop at ran- dom but after its kind and with reference to the stimulants and checks that are brought to bear. One of the most im- portant of these influences is light. Light has a direct in- liuence upon the form and health of a tree. The strongest growth of a tree's branches is made toward the brightest light. The parts of a tree which for any reason are shut oif from the light weaken and sooner or later die. Light. Fig. 17. Norway maple with character- Fig 18. Norway maple after an interior istic dense crown. The foliage devel- oped on tills drains the roots in dry weather and weak- ens the tree. pruning. This modifies the shape of the tree in no way while reduc- ing its leaf ai'ea and thereby increasing its vigor. Pruning for Vigor. 38 Shade Teees. Street trees must be made to develop so that they will not interfere with traffic, and in such a way as to make the best use of existing light conditions. This is accomplished by pruning. Subject to differences necessitated by abnormal conditions, a tree which has been skillfully pruned for a number of years will approximate the following description : 1. There will be a primary frame consisting of from one to three axillary branches, the number depending upon the species. A tulip or pin oak will have a single axis, while an elm or maple will have two or more co-ordinate members. A properly 2. Grouped about the primarv frame will be formed -^ . . ^ tree. several less imposing branches so arranged as to form a symmetrical frame work and characteristic of the species. 3. Each branch and branchlet will be free from physical contact with its neighbors. Unless the tree has had proper care from the time it was planted it will fall far short of this ideal, and quite heroic methods may be necessary to overcome the neglect of years. The commoner rules for pruning may be summarized as fol- lows : At the Tijie a Tree is Plakted. 1. The object of pruning at planting is to make the tree live. If it is necessary to sacrifice form to secure this re- sult, do so. After a tree is thoroughly established its growth to the proper form can always be accomplished. Pruning -* ^^ ^hc roots are intact it is not necessary for life. ^y prune the crovra.. It is seldom, however, that such is the case, and the removal of from twenty-five to fifty per cent, of such branches as are not needed in the shaping of the crown will be a wise precaution to counteract root injury. 3. If any of the roots are broken remove the injured parts by making a clean cut. Balance this cutting by removing a slightly greater relative proportion of the crown. Sometimes it will be necessary to remove practically the entire branch system to obtain a proper balance. (See Figs. 6, 7 and 8.) Street Teees. 39 WiiEX A Young Tree is Fully Established. 1. Select the primary frame according to the growth habit of the species in hand. 2. Select several secondary branches which pruning- either do, or can be made to, conform with the ***'' **"""'' primary frame in harmonizing the shape of the tree. 3. Remove any of the larger branches which do not con- form to the general character framework. 4. If the primary frame is vigorons enongh to maintain its domination over the secondary development, simply remove the smaller interior interfering branches. 5. Curtail any of the main branches which threaten to as- sume midue propo]-tions by removing a part of their terminal gro^\'th. When a Tbee is Well Developed, but Unpbuned. Most trees of this class will carry a considerable burden of dead wood in their interiors, and a large amount of half sup- pressed and vigor-lacking growth throughout the mass of branches. There is usually considerable irregularity in the form of the tree due to the greater vigor in some branches than in others. (See Fig. 17.) 1. Remove all dead wood. pruning- 2. Select from the most vigorous branches the ***'' vigor. character framework as outlined above. 3. Remove all branches large or small which do not fit in with the scheme of form development decided upon. •i. If the primary frame does not distinctly dominate, curtail the secondary development by clipping the terminals. 5. If necessary to cut back any large branch by a con- siderable amount without entirely removing it, leave a vig- orous small branch near the point where the cut is made to act as a ''sap lifter'' and thus insure the life of the branch which has been shortened. G. Establish an individuality in each branch by removing from it such parts as would bring it in contact with its neigh- bors, or which grow contrary to the characteristic habit of the species. 7. Remove internal decay as indicaled under "Treatment of Cavities," page 45. 40 Shade Teees. When a Teee is Neglected and Decadent. Old Tintrimmed trees always contain broken branches and mncli dead wood, and frequently possess certain branches which have grown disproportionately. This irregular growth and mutilation often develops a picturesque appearance which should be retained unless there is some outweighing reason for altering it. Under no circumstances allow a tree to be "topped," that is, reduced to a post with branch "Head in" |^ , -r^- ^ rs tt i i but don't stubs at the top. Jbig. 19. Under any but ex- ceptional conditions the practice is butchery. Better take the tree away and plant a new one. "Heading in" is another matter, and if carefully done may cause a decadent tree to recover its form as well as its vigor. Fig. 19. Butchered maples. Not necessary to escape the wires and in no way justified. The winter aspect of a tree is almost as important as its summer aspect. Street Trees. 41 An old tree if moderately sound will stand, and be thankful for, any reasonable treatment of its crown. In a case of this kind observe the following: 1. liemove all dead wood. 2. If all the large branches must be cut back make at least two operations, a year or more apart. 3. Make the cuts so that the stubs of the "headed in" branches will roughly conform to the desired shape of the crowii to be. 4. Be sure that a small "sap lifter" is left on each short- ened branch near the place where the cut is made. 5. Treat all decay as directed under "Treatment of Cavities," page 45. How TO PKUiVE. In removing a branch it is important to make the cut close to the trunk, or remaining branch, and to take such precau- tions as will insure a clean wound without injuring the sur- rounding bark. An ordinary hand saw or a pruning saw is generally used. Unless the branch is quite small saw under- neath first and finish from above. This is to prevent the splitting down of the branch, or breaking the surrounding bark. In removing any sizable limb, make first a half cut from the under side and about a foot from the trunk; then sever the limb entirely by a cut a few inches further out. (Fig. 20 B.) The object of the undercut is to prevent the in- evitable split from running back to the base of Avoid the branch. Finally remove the stub close to sp"*"^^. the trunk. If a limb is very large and heavy, and there are other branches beneath, support it from above by means of ropes in order that it may not fall and do damage. Be sure to make the final cut as close to the tree trunk as possible, since a large wound there Avill close in a more satisfactory manner than a smaller one at the end of a short stub. And be especially careful that as the severed limb finally falls the bark next its underside is not torn from the tree. PREVENT A SPLIT OR MEND A SPLIT BY CHAIN & BOLTS. NOT BY A BAND. SEE I . STUB TOO LON€ FOR HEAL- THY . HEALING AND DECAT WORKS INWARD. A PRUNING WOUND MADE AS B OR C HEALING PER- FECTLY. A WOUND FILLED UNNECESSARILY, TREATMENT AS E OR K WOULD BE BETTER. NEVER MEND A SPLIT WITH A BAND. THE TREE WILL SOON BE CHOKED, SEEA&D. A LARGE CAVITY PROPERLY FILLED WITH CONCRETE. Fig. 20. Diagram —How to doctor a tree. Steeet Trees. 43 Suggestions. Ever- Do not prune evergreens, except hedges, un- less the severed member is wanted out of the greens. way. Evergreens do not sprout from cuts as do most de- ciduous trees. Pruning may be done at the most convenient Tpi,,,^ ^^ time unless the wound bleeds. As this is most p^-""*- likely to occur in spring that season is the least advisable. Fall or winter is usually best, for then the sap is least active and the leaves do not obscure the tree framework. Do not remove a live limb unless it interferes with a better one or otherwise fails to meet the form and health require- ments of the tree. Interior pruning is often necessary in the maples, bass- wood, and similar dense-crowned trees, because the foliage develops beyond the power of the roots to satisfy it with water. A treatment similar to that ordinarily Excess of given fruit trees is advised. (See Figs. 17 *«"«^'^- and 18.) The suckers or long shoots from adventitious buds, often observed on elms, give them a peculiar beauty not found in other common shade trees. Spare these instead of removing them as is often done. r>o not trust your tree work to the first man who comes along, but seek a reputable worker. Iso chestnut tree can be cured of the blight; a wound badly filled or Tree unnecessarily filled would be better left open Fakirs— (Plate III) ; and a tree that is sprayed care- lessly or with wrong material Avill be benefited as much as, and no more than, one that is butchered under a pretence of being pruned. Tree owners are warned against men without credentials, and those who have work of this kind to do are advised to seek assistance from the local shade tree commission, or, if help cannot be secured in that way, to apply to the Forest Commission, to the State Entomologist or to the State Plant Pathologist. 44 Shade Trees. CARE OF WOUNDS. i^^^ \ ^1 M^^^^^^m^ > h^M frn^ ^^^^F/f j^H ■■S' > ^^^^^K^i A|^H ■r ' Fig. 21. Four branch wounds with good cal- luses but each showing a cavity, the result of long stubs and lack of treatment to prevent decay. See Fig. 22. Every break in the bark of a tree should be treated with an anti- septic to prevent the en- trance of decay. But this rule is commonly ignored in so far as clean cut wounds, not over two inches in di- ameter, made in the live wood of a healthy tree, are concerned. But every pruning wound of larger size must be treated else decay may set in before it can heal over. (Figs. 21 and 22.) The treatment consists simply in painting the exposed wood with coal tar, creosote, or lead paint. The first is usu- ally preferred. Thin the tar by heating it if necessary and apply with a brush, being care- ful not to cover the cambium, or tissue between the wood and bark. Give two good coats and repeat every year or two until the wound is completely healed. Wounds due to mechan- ical abrasion or animal g-nawing should have all the injured wood and bark removed with a knife or gouge and then be treated as directed above. (See Fig. 20.) If the bark is merely scraped but not broken through, let it alone ^ig- 22. A group of branch .vounas ~ . periectlv healed, no nlhng needed and see that it "does not as stubs were cut short and happen again." ''""see fT- ^r"^" Tar all woiindis Steeet Teees. 45 TREATMENT OF CAVITIES. 1. Kemove as mueh of the decayed ^rood as the location of the ca^■ity aud the condition of the tree seems to -warrant ; aim to ex]Dose a smooth snrface of sound Avood at all points. 2. Sterilize the surface by a brush application of copper sulphate or creosote. 3. Give the ca^dty at least three coats of coal tar, avoiding covering the cambium. 4. If the cavity is of such shape that it will catch and retain water, or if it is so large that the tree is weakened thereby, fill it as directed below. 5. If the cavity does not fall in either of the above classes it is best to allow the natural gro-\A'th of wood to gradually co\'er oA'er the defect. 46 Shade Tkees. PLATE III. Tree Wounds Healing Without, and in Spite of, Filling. A. A bad scar on a fine elm healing perfectly without cement. B. New growth on a wounded elm which has forced out a cement filling. C. New growth closing another wound on the same tree and confining some of the cement. D. Strong new growth closing a bad scar that would have been better left without brick or cement. E. A fine callus closing a bad wound on a hemlock that has had no treatment. The decayed wound in center should be removed and the sound core tarred. Plate III. See opposite page. 48 Shade Tubes. A word of warning must be given against the too free use of cement or concrete in treating trees. The material un- doubtedly has value in spite of a lack of elasticity that almost _ . inevitably prevents a fillinc; from beinff water Don't use • i • *" cement too tight. Or causcs it to crack and fall out of place. freely. ^ It may always be used where a tree needs me- chanical support, often where a cavity is unsightly, and some- times to keep out rain. Under other circumstances it usually is best to clean and treat antiseptically a cavity, certainly a superficial or shallow wound, and leave the rest to ISTature. In many cases a filling secretes rather than excludes mois- ture, thereby inducing decay, and unless it is very carefully made may interfere with the normal processes of repair. (See Plate III.) Where a cement filling must be made a few rules will serve to guide: 1. Prepare the cavity as above and in addition remove the bark around its edge for about half an inch. This is to expose active cells in the cambium from which the healing callus may develop. 2. Fill the cavity flush with the wood at the edge of the opening but do not lap over. If desirable the cement may be sculptured to resemble bark. 3. A small cavity may be filled with pure cement. For large ones use a concrete consisting of one part cement to Cement ^^^'^ parts of saud and reinforced with stone, or concrete, brick Or irou. Covcr the exposed face with an inch of pure cement. Spikes driven into the wood inside the cavity will help to hold the filling in place. Another method is to cover the cavity with sheet zinc, carefully fitted and securely nailed to the exposed wood at Zinc its Gdge, and fill in concrete behind it. The facing. concrete should be liquid enough readily to adapt itself to the interior of the cavity. This is a simple and very satisfactory way to get the filling in place and to keep it there. Qf course the zinc must be first fastened at Street Tkees. 49 the bottom and the concrete poured in from above. The zinc and the edges of the wound should be painted or tarred to render them less conspicuous. BRACES FOR CROTCHES. Acute angled crotches in trees of large size often split. To prevent this, or to repair a break, let iron braces be put in of size sufficient to withstand the strain. See Fig. 20. Do not let bands be used, many trees have Don't use been ruined by them. If the weight of limbs bands. is not very heavy a solid rod with screw threads on both ends can be used. Ordinarily, however, it is best to use hook bolts and a chain, or eye bolt, so that there may be some move- ment when the wind blows. Whether a single rod or a com- bination is used let a neat hole be bored entirely through each limb and as high above the crotch as is prac- ticable. If a rod is used these holes must be in ^/ chains. line, if a chain or eye bolt it does not matter. On the outer side of each hole countersink a seat for a washer at least 4 inches in diameter and for the nut. When the brace is in pJace make the whole taut by screwing up the nuts. If the tree has been split and the gap cannot be closed by the power of the screws rig a tackle higher up. Let the hook ends of the bolts project several inches so that they will not be buried as the tree grows, but see that the washer, nut and end of bolt are left so that they will be overgrown. WHAT TO DO WITH OLD TREES. j^othing that has been said about the choice of trees should be construed as a recommendation to remove a poor tree be- fore it can be replaced by a better one. A ragged old silver maple is often better than none. When systematic tree planting is decided upon accommodare the plan to existing trees and provide for a gradual replacement of undesirables. 4 50 Shade Trees. In the meantime fix np the latter and help Old trees , , ,. - , better than them to Keep alive : cut out all broken and dead branches, , heal the wounds and open the paveme]it so that the roots may have air. If necessary curtail the cro"WTis gradually so that new trees adjoining shall not he hampered in their development. If a tree is very bad don't waste time and effort but replace it at once. Fig. 23. Trees saved by mounding and raising curb when road was lowered. Note step in curb at A. Base of tree B is 30 inches above the gutter. Where a change of grade has left a tree above the common ]e^'el don't leave it to be kicked and battered by every passer- by, but cover the roots with a few inches of earth and provide some means to keep it there. (Fig. 15.) A slight change in a sidewalk may be fully justified by the necessity of saving a valued old tree. If a new grade requires a fill about a tree don't pile on two or three feet of earth at once, but build a well of brick or stone at least 3 feet greater in diameter than the tree stem. (Fig. 24.) Let that fill up gradually and occasionally break the bark on the tree, just below the soil level, to encourage the growth of new roots. Steeet Trees. 51 Fig. 24. A " Well" constructed about an elm tree when grade was raised. Photo by \Vm. Solotarofli CO-OPERATION. In few lines of civic work is co-operation so essential as in the care of shade trees. The fact that one individual ordinarily owns and controls but a fraction of the property in a block makes it necessary for each owner to work with, and not indepeiidently of, his neighbors. In almost every community the best results will be secured through a Shade Tree Commission, or a Park Board having similar authority. Fig. 25. Street grade raised two feet without changing sidewalk or injuring trees. Practicable only on a side street. 52 Shade Trees. SHADE TREE COMMISSION. Where a community interest in shade trees has been awakened the best way to get things done is to organize a shade tree commission. The State laws give ample powers to such bodies and one properly supported by local ordi- nances and reasonable aj)propriations will soon change the sylvic aspect of a municipality. The only objection to the laAvs as they stand that is of importance concerns itself with the unusual powers granted a Shade Tree Commission. The answer is that in practice the laws have worked no injury or injustice but have enabled several communities to care for their trees systematically and effectively. An individual may do the right things for the trees in front of his property and the community get the benefit, but ordinarily his interest is spasmodic and apt to iiais not be ineffective. He neglects to have his trees effective* fed, or doctored, or trimmed, or he employs a butcher who spoils them. A shade tree commission can pre- vent abuses and require symmetrical planting, can doctor, prune and spray, can make terms with the gas company and electric company and save the owner all trouble. Some property owners do not want to give over to a public body the care of trees which they have planted and nurtured. The position, though understandable, is unreasonable in a day when utilities and conveniences are developed for the advantage of the public. As well might each property owner insist on being allowed to do as he pleased resj^ecting side- walks, curbing, sewers. If every owner must dedicate a part of his property to the public for these purposes, he can quite as reasonably yield the care of liis shade trees that his neighbors as well as himself may be lienefited. An active Shade Tree Commission can do much good also by anticipat- pian for ^^^S ii^^nicipal improvements and harmonizing the future. various iutcrcsts. Where streets are repaved or grades changed an agreement with the engineers will save many an old tree from destruction. In not a few instances in this State has the want of co-operation, or co-ordination of duties and interests, deprived a town of trees that cannot be replaced. In new work the same unity is quite as neces- Lawn Trees. 53 saiy. Large open spaces about street trees, for instance, can be made onlv with the consent of those who regnlate the ])avements. Shade Tree Federation. The shade tree commission idea has progressed so far in Xew Jersey that an organization composed entirely of men and women actively interested in shade trees has been formed, it is in no sense a popular body, but devotes itself to ]3roblems that concern the various communities and their shade trees. In general it aims to be a sort of clearing house through which the experiences and needs of each com- munity or Shade Tree Commission can be made to serve all their fellows. Lawn Trees. The variety of lawn trees that may be grown in this State is almost unlimited. And here evergreens are quite as valu- able as deciduous trees. For the main features of any plant- ing plan the same species recommended for street planting will be found most satisfactory ; for contrasts, for pure orna- ment, for windbreaks, many other kinds are Many available. Individual taste will govern in this JEtossibie. and there is no objection to trying novelties. There are many native trees, however, that are rarely seen but which well deserve place. Serviceberry, dogwood, several birches, various magnolias, red bud, silverbell, sourwood, yellow wood, mountain ash, hawthorn, larch, cypress, arborvitse, hemlock, are all suitable, especially for sheltered situations. Many nurserymen are now prepared to furnish well grown trees and will guarantee them to live. Thus it is quite pos- sible to give an air of age to a new place within a very few years. Of course the cost of large trees is considerable. Trees on a lawn should be planted and cared for the same as street trees, though they will ordinarily need no guards and may easily grow much more rapidly. For , " "^ 1,^ . -, ," Must be fed. several years alter a tree is planted, no matter what its size, grass should not be allowed to grow about its base, but the ground kept open and frequently cultivated and watered. After the tree is fully established a turf may be allowed to form, but it will still need to be fertilized because 54 Shade Teees. its natiiraJ food, the fallen leaves, dead grass, etc., will have been removed. Open earth at the base of everj^ tree is recom- mended because, apart from all questions of nourishment, the bare circle acts as a guard against injury by lawn mowers, etc. Fig. 26. Ti'ee A stands in the gutter. Tree B in the curb line, Tree C is partly on the sidewalk. No harm done. It is well to observe several points about the (jualities and behavior of trees. Those which give a dense shade are usu- ally shade-enduring or tolerant ; they carry their own lower branches for a long while but kill or stunt trees, shrubs or g^gjj^ grasses that are intolerant or light-requiring. endurance. Q-^^ ^];^jg accouut grass docs uot gTow wcU uudcr a beech or spruce but may under oak or pine. Sugar maple will do fairly well in the shade of elm, but elm is hampered by sugar maple. Trees grow tall and slender when crowded, much broader when they have j)lenty of room. All trees do best in good soil, but some, as most of the pines, require it loose and well drained. Others like elm, ash and pin oak favor moist locations. Seashore Trees. 00 Evergreens, especially spruce, balsam, cedar, arborvitie, make tlie best windbreaks and permanent shade, but they should not be planted close to the house for they -vvi^d- cut off the sunlight in winter when it is wanted, breaks. Thin foliaged trees like elm, oak, sycamore, ash, are best in such places. Seashore Trees. Whether on streets or lawns, trees planted near the sea are subject to two great handicaps not commonly found else- where, namely, strong, constant winds and sterile soil. Close to the beach salt spray often works injury. These conditions make it imperative to plant only the hardiest species, though if great care is taken to prepare large beds of good earth sheltered lawns may enjoy a comparatively great variety. Especial pains must be taken to anchor every planted tree against the wind, for the breezes shteia from of summer are as nothing compared with the winds. storms of winter which it must withstand. In any case many trees will be permanently inclined or distorted as are those that a'row wild. Fig. 27. A well shaded lawn made from native forest near the sea. 56 Shade Tkees. On lawns the native pines, oaks, cedar and holly should be encouraged. Though of slow growth under natural condi- tions cultivation and care will stimulate them. The mari- time pine {Pinus pinaster) of Europe is worth trying in exposed situations. Spruces and firs need protection. For street planting it will be best to try few experiments, but use the trees that are proven hard}^ and give them every Plant only carc. The species most likely to thrive are approved -i i • i - speoies. sycamore, ailanthus, pm oak, scarlet oak, red oak, chestnut oak, hackberry, honey locust, red maple. Pop- lars and silver maple will be very short lived. iSTorway maple is apt to burn by reflected heat. It is unfortunate that so little systematic or careful tree planting has been done in our seaside communities, A little active interest, and time of course, would transform their bare, sunny streets to as^enues of shade. Specific Characters of the Most Available Trees for Planting. AILANTHUS. A tree {Ailanthus glandulosus, Desf.,), imported from Asia, of luxuriant habit and ornamental appearance. It grows with remarkable rapidity in almost any kind of soil and makes a valuable tree for wide avenues. It is not well adapted to narrow streets. The tree is objected to on ac- count of the litter produced by its leaves and abundant fruit, its early defoliation, and especially the ofi^ensive odor of the male flowers. This last, however, is easily avoided by plant- ing only pistillate trees, since male and female flowers are often found on se]:»arate individuals. The tree is remarkably free from disease and insect pests and is well thought of in Paris, where it has been largely planted. It is a favorite in several cities in this country also, notwithstanding the error made by planting staminate trees in some cases. Most Available Trees foe Plaktixg. ASH. Of all the ashes, the white ash (Fraxinus Americana, L.) has the most desirable qualities as a shade tree. It requires a rich soil and does best in the presence of considerable mois- ture. Under favorable conditions it grows fairly rapidly and attains a good size with a moderately broad, open crown and thin foliage. It makes a desirable tree where a moderate shade is wanted in summer and much sunlight in winter. The tree has few enemies and is little subject to disease. The chief objection to it as a shade tree is that the leaves cojne late in the ST)ring and fall very early. The European ash is less desirable than this. Green ash (F. 'pennsylvanica, var. lanceolata, Sarg.) is a comparatively small tree but hardier than white ash. It is planted largely in the West and should have a place here on narrow streets and where onlv a moderate shade is wanted. BASSWOOD OR LINDEN. The most important species is Tilia Americana, L., a beau- tifid, large tree with compact cro^n, broad lustrous leaves, and a curious winged fruit. This is an admirable tree for avenues and streets of moderate width where sun glare is not excessive. On closely paved streets, and near brick or stone buildings, the tree suffers seriously from sunburn. Bass- wood requires good soil and considerable care. AVhere that can be given its beautiful foliage and fragrant flowers justify its planting. Under other conditions it shoidd not be at- tempted. The European linden is apparently less able to withstand the trying conditions of city streets than the na- tive species. BEECH. This tree has no value for street planting, but either the native species {Fagus Americana, Sweet) or the European (F. sylvatica, L.) makes a beautiful lawn tree. They require 58 Shade Trees. rich, well drained soil and grow rather slowly. Under free conditions the tree is quite short but develops a broad heavy crown which casts a dense shade. There are many orna- mental forms of the European species — as purple-leaved, cut- leaved and drooping. Many of the leaves adhere to the branches through the winter, a habit that some people con- sider a fault, others like the constant rustle of the dried leaves, as well as the appearance of the tree when most others are bare. This tree should never be planted where sunlight is wanted winter or summer. Fig. 28. Beech. This and other trees grown on a lawn not sacri- ficed when street was cut through. Courtesy of Newark Shade Tree Commission.^ CATALPA. All the species of catalpa should be considered ornamental rather than practical shade trees. The southern catalpa (Catalpa catalpa, Ivarst) is a scrawny, irregular tree, but very picturesque in maturity, especially when covered with its large white bloom. The foliage and flowers appear quite late, and the leaves are blackened by the first frost or often at- tacked by fungi. The hardy cataljja (Catalpa speciosa, En- Most Available Teees for Planting. 59 gelm) grows more upright and is sometimes used as a shade tree, yet its large tender leaves, susceptible to frost as well as to burning by reflected heat, make it undesirable. The Japanese sjjecies (Catalpa bungei and C. haempferi) are purely ornamentals of small size. CHESTNUT. This is a Jarge tree of very rapid growth (Castanea den- tata, Borkh), and formerly was one of the most valuable na- tive species, but since the appearance of the bark disease (see page 101), not a single chestnut tree should be planted any- where. The paragon, or large fruited chestnut, from Europe is advocated for its nuts, but it is apparentl}^ susceptible to the same disease. ELM. No other tree, native or foreign, combines so many de- sirable qualities for a street tree as the American, or white, elra (Ulmus Americana, L.) It grows too large for narrow streets, but for those of moderate width, and for avenues, it has no superior. The trunk commonly divides at from ten to fifteen feet above the ground and forms a broad, high- arching crown with pendent branchL^rs. The tree requires reasonably good soil and plenty of moisture, and under fa- vorable conditions grows comparatively rapidly. The leaves are rather small and the shade produced not too dense. The autumn foliage is not notable. White elm is subject to several diseases, but throughout j^ew England, and in this State, its chief enemy is an insect called the elm leaf beetle. (See page 67.) This, however, should not deter anyone from j)lanting the tree for the insects can always be con- trolled. Slippery elm (JJhnus fulva, Michx.), and other na- tive species have no especially desirable qualities as shade trees. The English field elm {Ulmus campestris L.) and the Scotch elm {Ulmus montana, Bauh.) are sometimes planted as ornamentals. 60 Shade Trees. Fig. 29. Neither new road nor new trees require the sacrifice of a fine old elm. GINKGO. A tree {Ginkgo hiloba, L.) introduced thirty or forty years ago from Eastern Asia. It grows rapidly on almost any soil, develops a narrow cylindrical or conical crown that adapts it well to narrow streets, and is apparently not af- fected by insects or disease. The fan-shaped leaves with straight veins are unlike those of any native tree and their bright coloring in the fall sometimes rivals that of the maples. The only objection thus far made to the ginkgo as a street tree is that its fruit, an oily nnt, is sometimes malodorous. Even where the heat reflected from paved streets is considerable the tree thrives. It promises to be one of our most valuable species. Most Available Trees foe Planting. 61 GUM. Of the various gum trees only sweet gum, or bilsted (Liquidamhar stijraciflua, L.) is suitable for street plant- ing. This, hoAvever, is one of the very best, since it adapts itself to many conditions, develops a symmetrical, narrow crown, and is most attractive throughout the year. The tree prefers moist, even wet ground, but grows fairly well under less favorable conditions. Extreme care must be ex- ercised in transplanting as the roots are tender and lose their vitality if allowed to dry. The star-shaped leaves color gorgeously in the fall, and when they are gone the pendent spiky fruit heads adorn the tree throughout the winter. Many of the branches are furnished with curious corky ridges, or wings, sometimes upwards of an inch in width. Sour gum, or black gum (Nyssa sylvatica. Marsh.) , also called tupelo, and pepperidge, is a tree of quite different character. It grows under most adverse conditions, but is apparently not well suited for street planting. As an orna- mental, however, it well deserves a place. HACKBERRY. A tree (Celtis occidentalis, L.) closely related to the elms, but of more upright habit and thrifty in poor soils. It is especially well suited to narrow and moderately wide streets and to the most trying conditions. Almost every mature tree exhibits curiously knotted branehlets called "witches broom," the result of disease. This, however, does no ma- terial harm. (See page 106.) HORSE CHESTNUT. A tree (Aesculus hippocastanum, L.) native to the Medi- terranean countries, and often planted in the cities of Europe, yet not especially valuable there or here. Its fine form, beautiful leaves, which unfold very early, and great panicles of white flowers are its chief recommendations. It is also hardy in moderately good soil, and grows with fair 62 Shade Trees. rapidity. Against these recomniendations must be set its susceptibility to insect and fungus attack, the early fall of its leaves, the litter produced by its fruit and the liability to injury by reflected heat when planted on sunny streets. A tree of undoubted value for parkways and lawns, but it should be used with discrimination in other situations. One or two native horse chestnuts, or buckeyes, especially A. glabra. Wild and A., octandra, Marsh., are also sometimes planted. LOCUST. Common, black, or yellow locust (Robinia pseudacacia, L.) is so subject to injury by the borer worm (see page 83) that it should never be planted in this part of the country, either along the streets or on lavms. This is unfortunate because the light foliage and narrow form of the crown, with the hardiness and adaptability of the tree, make it an admirable one for street planting. Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos, L.), however, is less apt to be injured in this way. The tree is very hardy, not particular about the soil in which it stands, and a fairly rapid grower. Apart from the beauty of the foliage, which is Linusually light and open, the flowers are full of honey and the stout thorns with which the trunk and branches are clothed make it particularly at- Fig. 30. Trees left above grade. If others are planted at x, x, x, the old ones can be removed in a few years without injuring the property. Most Available Trees for Planting. 63 tractive. If these thorns are objectionable they can be re- moved or a thornless horticultural form may be used. The tree is somewhat late in unfolding its leaves, yet that is hardly a disadvantage. The long, coarse, pods that litter the pavements in the fall, or hang on the branches in winter, are more objectionable. MAPLE. ISio trees have been more widely used for street planting than the maples, yet in too many cases the wrong species has been employed, or the trees used in situations to which they are not suited. White, silver or soft maple (Acer sacchari- num, L.) is planted ever^'where, yet it is a poor tree, and for the reasons given on page 13 is not recommended. ITor- way maple {A. platanoides, L.) is altogether the best tree that we have for streets of moderate width. It is symmetri- cal in form, adaptable to almost any soil, hardy, and a fairly j-apid grower. In autumn its foliage takes on the most bril- liant coloring. The tree is little subject to serious diseases. Though several insects frequently attack it they usually do little harm. The drying of the leaves often noticed in early summer is usually due to deficient moisture, or to sunburn. It is to be prevented whenever possibl.?, though it rarely does harm. (See page 116.) Eed maple {A. ruhrum, L.) is of somewhat more slender habit than Norway maple and thrives best in moist soil. It also is a good tree for streets of mod- erate width, though it sometimes suffers from sunburn. The vouuffer branches are reddish and in autumn the coloring of rhe foliage is brilliant. Sugar maple {A. saccharum, Marsh. ) is a larger tree than ISTorway maple, though in many respects so much like it that the two are often hard to dis- tinguish. It thrives in cool situations, but invariably suffers when planted along paved streets. Except on wide streets with parking the ISTorway maple is always to be preferred. Ash-leaved maple, or box elder (A. negundo, L.) is a small tree whose only merit is that it accommodates itself to ad- verse conditions. It is short lived like silver maple, and is not recommended for the same reasons. 64- Shade Trees, OAK. It is decided] V iinfortunate that the many oaks found in this country have not furnished more street trees. As a family they are undoubtedly the best shade trees that we have, for, with few exceptions, they are beautiful, long lived, and little subject to insects or disease. When properly planted and taken care of the growth of many of them is not slow. The following species are recommended. Red oak {Quercus rubra, L.), one of our grandest forest trees, is suit- able for broad avenues. It is satisfied with comparatively poor soil, develops a straight, sturdy trunk surmounted by a broad symmetrical crown, not too dense, and its foliage turns a brilliant color in autumn. It is the most rapid grow- ing of the oaks. Scarlet oak {Q. coccinea, Muench.) is much like red oak, but smaller in size, and does well on even poorer soil. Its leaves also are brilliantly colored in the fall, and quite persistent. Pin oak {Q. palustris, Muench.) grows taller and more slender than most other oaks and has an unusually straight stem. It is thoroughly at home on moist ground, but does not do well where it is dvj. The leaves are less brilliantly colored than those of red and scarlet oaks and are apt to persist through the winter. Several fine avenues of this tree may be seen in Washington, D. C, and on Long Island. The white oaks, including bur oak, swamp white oak, chestnut oak and the English oak, are less valu- able for street planting than for la^vns. All are compara- tively short but sturdy and with broad crowns. They are the longest lived of all our deciduous trees, and, contrary to the general impression, not at all slow growing when suitably located, SYCAMORE. A tree (Platcmus occidentalis, L.) which normally, and under fa^^orable conditions, grows to an enormous size, but is capable of being pruned and trained to meet the conditions imposed by streets of moderate width. It prefers a rich. Most Available Tkees foe Planting. 65 moist soil and in that grows very rapidly. Its peculiar habit of shedding its bark every year especially adapts it to loca- tions in which there is much smoke. The leaves unfold late and are not brilliantly colored in the fall, but the globular fruit which persists through the winter, the free habit of the tree and its vigorous growth, recommend it highly. In some localities a fungus attacks the leaves just after they unfold, but the injury is not apt to be very serious or permanent. (See page 97.) Some planters prefer the European syca- more, or plane tree (P. orientalis, L.), yet its superiority is at least doubtful. It is said that one-third the trees planted in Paris are American sycamores. TULIP POPLAR. Liriodendron tulipifera, L., a magTiificent tree suitable only for wide avenues with broad grass spaces, or for lawns. It absolutely requires good, well-drained soil ; when that is given it grows with unusual rapidity and forms a tall, straight trunk Avith a comparatively narrow crown. Under other conditions it suffers from sunburn and manv diseases. Insects Injurious to Shade Trees. By John B. Smith^ Sc.D.^ Siate Entomologist. " GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. lu the following pages it is intended to refer to the lead- ing species of insects infesting shade trees in the briefest possible manner only and to give, in the same way, directions for treatment. If further details are desired concerning the habits or characters of the insects referred to, they can be found in the Bulletins and Reports of the Fniierin- ISTew Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations, obtainable. to wdiich reference is also made for further information con- cerning insecticides and insecticide machinery. The colored plates exhibiting the more important insects were prepared by Mr. John A. Grossbeck, then an assistant in the author's laboratory. The drawings were made from published figures, credited as to source in Bulletin 181 of the 'New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations. The order in which the insects are referred to here, is an indication of their relative importance. THE ELM-LEAF BEETLE. PI. IV., Figs. 5, 5a, 5b. The adiilt beetle lives through the winter, hiding in attics and other sheltered places. When the first elm leaves are full grown in syjring it becomes active, begins eating irregu- lar holes through the leaves and, in about a week, laj's eggs. These hatch into yellow and black slugs which attacks feed on the underside of the leaves, eating only *■*'"•" *"'''• the surface layer of cells, and cause them, to turn brown, dry and drop. Early in July the larvse crawl to the base of the *Died March 12th, 1912. (67) 68 Shadr Tkees. tree, cliange to yellow pupse and bj August 1st have changed to beetles. These feed for a few days and then go into hid- ing, to reappear the spring following. Attack elms only. Remedial Measures. Spray the infested trees with Paris green, 1 pound in 125 gallons of water, or, preferably, 1 pound of dry arsenate of lead in 25 gallons of water, as soon as the first beetle is seen feeding in spring, and soak the leaves thoroughly. The ob- ject is to kill the beetles before they can lay eggs, and there- fore j)3'omptness and thoroughness are essential. (See page 88.) If there has been delay and some eggs are already laid, it will be desirable to spray a second time as soon as larval feeding is observed, and this time every effort TMs win ^ 1 • 1 1 <■ 11 prevent ser- must DC made to hit the leaves from the under- side, because there is where the larvae feed. If, nevertheless, any considerable number of slugs come to the ground to pupate, kill them off with boiling hot water or bj' sprinkling with kerosene. Cotton batting or sticky bands do no e'ood. THE WHITE-MARKED TUSSOCK MOTH. Plate v., Figs. 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d. AVinters on the trees in the egg-stago, in a little white mass on the cocoon of the female. Young caterpillars hatch in May and feed on almost all ordinary shade trees. Cater- pillars when full grown have a bright red head, long pencils of black hair fore and aft, and stubby brushes of yellow hair on the back. General color yellow with a black Various stripe on back. Become full grown toward end frees. . of June and spin up any^vhere on trees, on fences, under window ledges and other shelter on houses. In July the males emerge as dusty gray moths v,diich flutter Insects Iistjueious to Shade Trees. 69 about in the early evening and seek the females which are wingless and rest on the cocoons out of which they emerged. The females lay egg-masses on these cocoons, cover them with a snow-white frothy secretion and die. Some of these eggs hatch and there is a partial second brood ; abundant in South Jersey, scant in ISTorth Jersey. Remedial Measures. Clean off all egg-masses on trees during winter and band the trees in early J\lay with fluffy cotton to prevent cater- pillars from getting up from other trees. If the trees are infested spray with Paris green or arsenate of Band trees lead as prescribed for elm-leaf beetle. Arse- ***' **•*'*• nate of lead sticks better, never hurts foliage and, if well ap- plied, needs only one application. The earlier it is used after infestation is noted the better results V\^ill be. THE BAG-WORM, DROP-WORM OR BASKET- WORM. Plate v., Figs. 3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. Winters in the egg-stage in a gray silken bag or sack, which may be found attached to trees and shrubs of almost all kinds, coniferous as well as deciduous. The eggs hatch in May and the young caterpillars at once make a little bag or sack which is enlarged as they grow and in which they live Attacks all during their caterpillar life. Teed on the foli- kinds of "trees* age, openly until July, then change to pupse within their bags and in August the male moth emerges. This is black, very active, with transparent wings and is rarely seen. The female does not leave the bag but, after impregnation, lays her eggs in a mass of orange cottony ma- terial, then wriggles to the opening, drops to the ground and dies. 70 Shade Trees. EXPLANATION OF PLATE IV. 1. 3. The Cottonj- Maple Scale; Pulvinaria innumeraiilis. la. Pulvinaria acericola; found only on leaves. 2. The Oyster-shell Scale, Mytilaspis pomorum, natural size. 2a. " " " female, enlarged. 2b. " " " male, enlarged. 3. Cottony Maple Scale, male, enlarged. 3a. " " " one of the recent sets, enlarged. 4. The Scurfy Scale, Chioiiaspis furfurus, natural size. 4a. " " " female, enlarged. 4b. " " " male, enlarged. 5. Elm leaf with Eggs and Larvae of The Elm-leaf Beetle, Galerucella Jiiteola, natural size. 5a. Elm-leaf Beetle larva, enlarged. 5b. Adult Elm-leaf Beetle. 6. San Jose Scale. AspicUotus perniciosus, enlarged. See Pig. 82. PLATE IV: See descriptions opposite ^">N^, -% ''••/•n Kycy ..'.-.*. » 1'* ,.".'.''.■ ' ♦ * ' ' * • " "!,''r, f fc PLATE V: See descriptions opposite L\SECTS llN^JUKIOUS TO ShADE TeEES. Yl EXPLANATION OF PLATE V. 1. The Fall AYeb-Worm ; Hypliantria eiinca — adult laj'ing eggs. la. " " " adult moth expanded. lb. " " " pupa. Ic. " " " larva. Id. " " " varietal larva. 2. The White-marked Tussock Moth ; 'Notoloplius leucostigma, larva. 2a. " " " " female pupa. 2b. " " " " male pupa. 2c. " " " " female on egg mass. 2d. " " " " male moth, natural position. 3. The Bag- Worm ; Thyridopteryx ephemerceformis, male adult. 3a. " " over-wintering bag which contains the eggs. 3b. " " larva. 3c. " " female pupa. .3d. " " male pupa. 4. The Wood Leopard Moth ; Zeiizera pyrixa, male. 4a. " " " " larva from above. 4b. " " " " larva from side. 4c. Work of the larva of the Wood Leopard Moth. Shade Tkees. Bemedial Measures. On shrubs, and especially Arborvitse and other ever- greens, pick off the bags during the winter and burn them. On trees, where that is not feasible, spray thoroughly with arsenate of lead or Paris green as recommended for the elm- Piek off -^^^f beetle, just as soon as the young caterpillars ''^^*' are observed issuing from the bags. Conifers will not stand Paris green, but may be safely treated with arsenate of lead. There is only one brood of this species and winter work is especially recommended on hedge plants which are sometimes dense and not easily sprayed. THE COTTONY MAPLE SCALE. Plate IV., Figs. 1, 3, 3a. Attacks Maples only, among shade trees ; but found also on Vitis, Ampelopsis and other plants. The impregnated female winters as a brown scale on the twigs, resumes feeding in May, and late in that month or in early June begins to exude a white cottony mass in which a thousand eggs or Attacks more are laid. The minute young hatch in late trees,"*but* Juue or early July, crawl about a few hours other plants. ^^^^^ then sct ou Icaves, twigs and branches and suck the juices. When the insects are abundant, the leaves turn a sickly yellow, often become covered with honey dew, and badly infested branches may die. The insects mature in late August and September; the males issue as minute 2- winged flies, impregnate the female and die. The latter move from leaves to twigs and fix themselves firmly for the winter. IisrsECTs Tnjueious to Shade Teees. 73 Remedial Measures. This species is ordinarily kept in check by its natural enemies ; bnt sometimes it escapes and becomes conspicuously abundant. It is always well, where easily accessible twigs are observed with forming white cottony masses in June, to cut them ofl" and destroy them by fire, and ordinarily -, . . -,. ' -, n T • needs no this may m ordinary seasons be all that is neces- control. sary. If the infestation is very bad, cut off an infested twig in late June and lay it in a box on a sheet of white paper. When the paper becomes covered with rusty crawling dust- like particles the young are hatching, rhen spray the infested portions of the tree with whale-oil soap, 1 pound in 4 gallons of water, or with kerosene emulsion 1 part to 12 parts of water. (See also page 78.) THE WOOD LEOPARD MOTH. Plate v., Figs. 4, 4a, 4b, 4c. This insect winters in the caterpillar stage in the wood of a great variety of deciduous shade and fruit trees, favoring maple and elm among the former. They live in the trees as borers for two full years, and in the spring of the third change to a pupa and then to an adult which is a large white moth with black spots, the males being strongly Attacks attracted to the electric light. The full-grown ^f'*?Je^s***bHt borer is two inches or more in length and often locaiiy. girdles branches of considerable size, or even the trunks of small trees. It is common only in the cities and towns in the east central part of the State from Paterson to Long Branch and west to ISTew Brunswick, doing its greatest mis- chief in the largest cities where the English sparrows exclude the native birds. 74 Shade Teees. Bemedial Measures. On small trees the borers can be often found and cut out or destroyed with a soft Avire run into their burrow, which opens outwardly, or bisulphide of carbon may be injected. (See page 83.) On larger trees gather and burn all the twigs and branches that fall to the ground or are blown down in high winds. Where dying branches are noticed, Kill one by ^^^ them o£t" bclow the point of apparent injury *"**• and burn the cuttings. Inject bisulphide of carbon into all holes from which strings of sawdust are ob- served exuding, and plug up the opening with putty. When the moths are observed around the electric or other lights kill every one that comes within reach. Discourage spar- rows and favor all other birds that come into town. OYSTER-SHELL BARK-LOUSE. Plate IV., Figs. 2, 2a, 2b. This is the most common of the armored scales attacking shade trees, and derives its name from the reseiublance to one of the very elongate type of oysters. It winters in the egg stage under the scale, and in May or June the eggs hatch into minute yellow crawling atoms thar,, in 24 hours, set and begin to form small scales. These suck the juices of the twigs and increase in size until midsummer or Attacks many trees a little later. Thcu the males mature as small, two-winged flies, and the females, after im- pregnation, lay their yellowish white eggs which fill the space beneath the scale as the mother gradually shrivels up. South of the red shale line the tendency is to a second brood of these scales and in the sandy pine region the second brood is well defined. ]^orth of the red shale there is only one brood. Maples in South Jersey are often very seriously injured. Insects Injurious to Shade Teees. 75 Remedial Measures. There is only one period at which this insect can be satis- factorily reached ; that is when the eggs have just hatched, and while the larvse are moving about or have just set. The exact date cannot be given because it varies with the season and with the section of the State; but it will be during late May or early June. As soon as the larv^ are ^^^^^ ^^ observed, spray with whale-oil soa]) at the rate *"*^*'* "™^- of 1 pound in 5 gallons of water, or kerosene emulsion 1 part to 12 parts of water. Eepeat if possible a week afterward, to reach delayed larvse. This will usually prove effective, and will aid the natural enemies in getting control of the insects. AV inter sprays are not useful against this species because the eggs are not affected beneath their scaly covering. THE FALL WEB-WORM. Plate v., Figs. 1, la, lb, Ic, Id. This species winters in the pupal stage, and early in May the adult moth appears as a medium sized snow-white miller, sometimes more or less black dotted. It lays its eggs in a mass on the underside of a leaf, and the little caterpillars that hatch from them remain together, spinning Attacks a web in which they live and from which they eVduoH^f" emerge at night to feed. As they grow, the **'•'*'*• nest increases in size and may measure two or even three feet across, in large colonies. In July these caterpillars are ma- ture, pupate and soon after produce a second crop of moths which in turn lay eggs from which caterpillars hatch in Au- gust, the nests becoming conspicuous late in that month or early in September. Because most people notice them only at that season they have received the name fall web-worm 76 Shade Teees. to distinguish them from the tent caterpillars in apple orchards which are most conspicuous in spring. Linden or basswood among the shade trees suffers most from this web- worm which, however, may be found on a great variety of deciduous trees. Remedial Measures. When a forming nest of these caterpillars is observed burn it with a long handled torch, cut it off and tramp it under foot or otherwise destroy it. When the nests are not ac- Destroy ccssiblc or havc become so large that cutting ******* would mutilate the tree, spray the foliage around the nests with Paris green or arsenate of lead as recommended for the elm-leaf beetle. It is not necessary to spray the entire tree, for the caterpillars do not move further from their nest than necessary to find food; hence spraying the vicinitv of the nest is all that is needed. THE MAPLE PSEUDOCOCCUS. Late in the summer the trunks, and sometimes the branches, of sugar maples become covered with a white cot- tony or waxy substance, beneath which will be found yel- lowish, crawling, grub-like creatures. These sometimes in- crease so greatly in number that they form ver- Attacks . , . s«sar itable layers, coating the trunks completely and maples only. t i x ./ extending to the leaves. When the latter are attacked they are apt to turn yellow and drop, so that in severe cases a tree becomes partly defoliated earlier in the season than is normal. The insect winters in the partly grown condition, hiding in the crevices of the bark, and not until after mid-summer does it usually become abundant enough to attract attention. Insects Injurious to Shade Trees. 77 Fio-. 31. The Maple Pseudococcus : o, the cottony masses covering the " adult females on leaf ; b, young of both sexes on bark From Howard, U. S. Dept. Agl. Remedial Measures. When the infested leaves drop to the ground they should be regularly raked u]-) and burnt. In the cities and towns where water pressure is available, a solid jet from a hose on the infested trunk will wash out and destroy the ^^ash ^vitu vast majority of the specimens, leaving not •'»^''' enough to do any harm. In winter the tree trunks may be sprayed with one of the miscible oils like ''Scalecide," di- luted Avith ten parts of water and applied with sufficient force 7S Shade Trees. to penetrate into every crevice and irregularity of the bark. This will kill the hibernating forms and prevent any start next season. Incidentally, the forcible solid jet just recommended, may bo applied with a pump and small nozzle, and this has also been used to dislodge the cottony maple scales (see page 73) from twigs and branches early in the season before the eggs have hatched. THE SCURFY SCALE. Plate IV., Figs. 4, 4a, 4b. This scale infests the poplar most frequently, among the shade trees, but is also found on maple and occasionally on others. It is very pale gray, almost as broad as long, with Attacks a yellowish point or head. Beneath this scale chiefly. the purplc eggs are found during the winter, and in June they hatch into purplish crawling larvae which ha^'e the same general habits of other scale insects, and like them suck the plant juices. There is only a single brood which matures in September, and is rarely abundant enough to do any real injury. Remedial Measures. This scale is thinner than most others of the armored forms, and may be reached by the lime-sulphur or other caus- tic sprays in winter. The caustic corrodes the scaly cover- if serious ^^o? ^^^ ^hc eggs wash out and are scattered use caustic. ^^^ destroyed on the ground. Even caustic lye or soda at the rate of 1 pound in 1 gallon of water will accomplish this. If no winter application is made it will be necessary to wait until the eggs hatch in June, and then apply whale-oil soap or kerosene emulsion as recommended for the oyster-shell scale. IjN'sects InjupvIOus to Shade Tkees. 79 THE SAN JOSE SCALE. Plate IV., Fig. 6 ; Fig. 32. This is a small, round, blackish scale that passes the winter in the partly gro^wn condition, comes to maturity in early June, bears living young and reproduces throughout the sea- son so that a slight infestation in spring may mean seriou.s danger before the year is over. JSiot many of the ordinary shade trees are subject to dangerous infestation M^hen well grown; but young elms, especially of the European varieties, are sometimes much injured and occasionally killed. Attacks fruit trees more than shade trees. Fig. 32. The San Jose Scale : a, on a twig, natnral size ; 6, as seen under a hand lens, much enlarged. Div. Ent., U. S. Dept Agl. 80 Shade Trees. Remedial Measures. As this insect bears its young alive, the period of reproduc- tion is spread over a considerable period, and no one applica- tion can reach all, or even a large percentage, of the larvae in the naked condition. In consequence, winter applications that are either very caustic or very penetrating are resorted to. The caustics are the lime and sulphur washes or whale-oil soap, the latter at the rate of two pounds in one gallon of water. The penetrating materials are petroleum oils, either undiluted or made miscible, or "soluble," in water. The latter are used at the rate of 1 part in 15 parts of water and the application must be very thor- ough to be satisfactorily eifective. This is perhaps the most dangerous of all the scales and the hardest to control in the orchards. Fortunately none of our usual city trees seem to its liking, nor does it occur in our forests, although it is able to maintain itself on a number of our forest trees. THE TULIP SOFT SCALE. This is a very large, livid gray scale, nearly 14 of ^'^ inoh. in length, almost as wide and very convex. It occurs only on the tulip tree but sometimes infests that in great num- bers and does more or less mischief, especially on young Attacks trees. It winters in the young stages on the tulip tree . i i n i i • only. tvv^igs, oiten underneath old scales, begins growth in May and reaches maturity in August when the female is very offensive in odor and filled with a rank pur- ]3lish material. In early September the small black young are born in great numbers and may set on the twigs so densely as to completely obscure the natural color of the bark. I]MSECTs I:srjuEious TO Shade Trees. 81 Fig. 33. A soft scale as it appears on badly-infested twigs. Remedial Measures. About the only really satisfactory application is undiluted crude petroleum as a winter spray. The miscible oils di- luted no more than ten times, may answer the purpose ; but have not been sufficiently tested. Whale-oil ^. , . " jNot often soap at the rate ol 1 pound in 4 gallons of water iiarmfui. applied just after they are hatched will kill the young, and this sort of application is feasible on small or moderate sized trees. On very large trees only the winter applications are at all practical. Fortunately this insect has some very ef- fective natural checks which usually control it, so that except ou young trees we need not often ap]ily treatments. OTHER SCALES. There are a variety of other scales, mostly allies of those already mentioned, that at times infest shade trees, but rarely in sufficient numbers to require active treatment. As a rule winter treatments should be made if the species permits, for there is not at that season any interference of foliao-e and much stronger mixtures can be used on dormant trees. G S3 SirAni-; Tl'kes. wonkeneil lUHUOUS. A ViU'ioty ol" boivrs iufcsl sliadc trin^s ami, as a nilo, they attaelv, bv pr(>t\>r(^iu'(\ sueli as are weak ami siekly. But lliat is bv no lueaus a iinivevsal rule. ]\Iaple trees ari> iiol iufn'(|mMitl_v iirfesteii by a suiall eatcn'piUar borer that works into the heart-wood though il does little danuvgv unless water finds entrauee thvoug'h their holes and eanst-s deeay. (^8ee page 1 iW) The holes through whieh they emerge are not o\er 's i^^^^'h in di- anu^ter and nt>arly round. The moth is a pretty, elear- winged species, yellow, with bright red nnirkiugs. b'ig. ;'.{. The Maplo 'Proo Sosiid : a, the larva ; /*. cocoons in cavities made l>v larviv ; c, llio adult moth; (/, pupa-shell projecting from trunk. After Kiley. As against this species frequent whitewashing the infested trunks and sealing up the holes with putty, is about the only thing that can be done, unless there is a decayed area acting as the eentri^ ot" iirt'estation. In that case the cavity should be thor^nighly c'leaued and treated as described on page 45. Insects Injurious to Shade Trees. 83 In fact, tlic sort of troatiiieiit onlliuca in the above para- graph may be aclopted against borers in general. Sometimes, when sawdust is noticed coming out of an opening, the injec- tion of disnlphidc of carbon is indicated, plugging np with pntty after the injection to prevent the cscapeof the fnmes. Carbon disnlphidc mav bc^ injected with a syringe, or even the ordinary pipette with rubber bulb such as is used in fill- ing fountain pens. I have a long glass tube drawn to a point, with a large rubber bulb at the squared end, which answers perfectly. It needs only a half teaspoon to a tea- spoonful in any case. Flat headed borers and bark beetles prefer trees that are weak or sickly and, in a general way, it pays to keep trees in vigorous health because of their smaller liability to borer in- festation. When a tree is once badly infested, especially with bark beetles, the sooner it is cut out the better. It is simply a source of infection to its surroundings. Hickory, and still more often Locust, is very subject to the attacks of round-headed borers, and these attack perfectly sound trees. Locust Borer. Th(^ work of this insect is very common on the black or yellow locust in Kew Jersey, making it an almost impossible tree. As soon as a tree attains a moderate size it is apt to be riddled with the large holes made b^aok^'ocust by the larvie and leads but a sickly life, if it ""'''• does not die within a few years. The beetles themselves are rather attractive creatures, about three-fourths of an inch long, of a dull black color, brightly marked with golden yellow, and may be found fre- qu(^nting the flowers of the goldenrod. In September these beetles gather on the locust trees and mate, after which the feuiale deposits her snow white eggs in cracks and crevices. These soon hatch and the grubs bore into the bark feeding on the soft inner substance. During the winter they are torpid. In spring they resume feeding, boring through the sapwood 84 Shade Trees. and making irregular passages more or less deeply into the trunk. Honey locust is little, or not at all, subject to injury by tbis insect. Bemedial Measures. Ordinarily it is impossible to do much to control this in- sect. Some persons have suggested a repellant wash to pre- vent egg deposition. It is certainly advisable ctive +^ ,,„f , remedy No effective ^q ^^^^ ,^y^^^ bum badly infested trees during, the winter. The beetle seems to like the sun and has a preference for trees somewhat exposed, therefore, thick shady groves would be least likely to be attacked. HiCKOEY Bark Beetle. This beetle occurs throughout the State, boring under the bark of feeble or dying hickories, often killing shade trees that would otherwise have recovered under stimulating treat- ment. The beetles, which are small, bro^vn or only to black, about one-fifth of an inch long, appear ^Teak trees. , o/ i x from the latter i^art of June to the latter part of J uly. Attacking the bark of the trunk and large branches, each female makes a vertical gallery an inch or more in length. JSfotches are cut in the sides of this burrow, for the purpose of holding the eggs. After hatching, the grubs construct channels diverging from the main gallery. (See Fig. 35.) The winter is passed by the nearly full grown grubs, which pupate the following spring. IxsECTs liSTjuRiors TO Shade Trees. 85 Fig. 35. Work of the hickory bark beetle. lie me dial Measures. "Where a slight infestation is noticed on a tolerably healthy tree, the tree should be stimulated by means of appropriate fertilizers (see page 25), and the trunk kept covered by whitewash to which Paris ffreen has stimulate / o good trees. been added, fetrong whale-oil soap suds will answer the same purpose. If a tree is seriously infested, it should be cut down at once and burned, as it is certain to die in a short time anyhow and is only a menace to surround- ing trees. PLANT LICE. ^[ost of our shade trees suffer from plant lice to a greater or less extent, and none more than the Norway maples. These insects multiply very rapidly, suck the juices of the 86 Shade Tkees. leaves and succulent shoots, and so exhaust rhtir vitality. ,, , , AVhen they become abundant the honer dew ex- Maple louse. tit • " creted by them sometimes covers the leaves with a sticky secretion that may be abundant enough to drop to the street below. This secretion tends to clog the foliage so that it may drop while yet perfectly green, and a black soot fiuigus is also likely to develop. Fortunately this sort of attack does not continue after the first spell of hot dry weather, and during a normal season is not apt to be bad at all. Remedial Measures. As against plant lice of all kinds on shade trees, nothing is much better than whale-oil soap suds and this applies not AMiaie-oii '^^b" ^*-^ those speclcs that attack the leaves but *'*^^' to some that gather along the undersides of brandies of conifers. In general, 1 pound in -l gallons of water is an effective streno-th, and safe on most kinds of foliage. INSECTS INJURING CONIFERS. Pines and other conifers are not often used as street trees, but are not infrequently found in parks and grounds around residences. They sutfer from a variety of insects and are not easily treated, because they are extremely sensitive to most insecticides. Against feeders upon the leaves, arsenate of lead is the only arsenical poison that can be safely used. "When plant lice attack them, whale-oil soap suds, one pound in six gallons of water, lib- erally applied, will be safe and reasonably etfective. Against tliose woolly species that are frequently found massed against the underside of the branches, a forcible jet of water is often very satisfactory or the whale-oil soap may be used, 1 pound in -i gallons of water, locally applied. If the trees are suf- ficiently valuable, simply scrub the branches with a stiff brush and weak soap suds. Insects Injurious to Shade Trees. 87 Scales sometimos infest the needles ; but on large trees arc never harmful in inv experience. On small 1 c 111- • 1 • Scales trees watch for Ihe hatcliino' of the eo-gs lu mroiy June and use tlu^ Avhalc-oil soa]^ 1 ]H)und m (.i gallons, liberally. AYliite pines an^ sometimes deformed by the attacks of the white-pine weevil which hiys its eggs in the leaders, the larvas boring into and killing them. It is the young trees that are usually alfected and in most instances the form winte-pinc of the tree is permanently spoilt. Fortunately weevil. the insect is not at all common in Ncav Jerscv, and vouna; trees if kept under observation may be protected by collect- ing the adults or, what is more practical, keeping the leaders sprayed during J\Iay and June with whale-oil soap suds one pound in six gallons of water, adding half a pound of arse- nate of lead to this mixture. If the leaders are at any time observed to be lacking in vigor or to be unnaturally yellow in color, they should be carefully examined, and if any signs of feeding are noticed every puncture should be followed with a soft wire to reach the feeding larvcW If this is done in time the shoot will recover. If the feeding is alreadv well advanced so that re- covery seems doubtful cut and destroy by fire. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. Shade trees in general should be kept free from dead or dying wood, and all cut wood should be destroyed by fire. It is always in order to clean the bark during the winter by means of soda or lye washes which get rid of the growth in or under which many insects hibernate. A ' . Keep strong soap solution, even of ordinarv laundry trees •11 c 1 1 1 ,' ' 1 1 • liealtliy. soap, will often do a great deal of good, and it can be used to advantage on the waxy plant lice or mealy scale bugs during the winter. AVhen there is an application of an arsenical spray to be made, the sooner it is done the better the effect; vouna; or 88 Sh^\be Teees. partly grown specimens succumbing more rapidly and easily than more nearly mature forms. A single defoliation rarely harms a deciduous tree very much; but successive defolia- tions weaken and eventually kill. And always a healthy, well fed tree is less attacked by insects than a sickly starved example which gives up in despair at the least provocation and invites attack bv its verv inabilitv to resist. SPRAYING. Amoug the first things that must be realized in planning work to avoid insect injury to city trees, is that by no means all kinds of trees are equally subject to such injury, nor is Municipal there any one treatment that is equally effective ^^**^^- ngaiust all insects. There may be one city with 1,000 trees on which insect injury may be kej^t down by a single man during the season ; another with half that num- ber may require a power sprayer and a gang to run it for a month. At the begiimiug, find out what trees there are and their condition. Then, with the assistance of the entomologist, you are in position to determine what outfit is needed to carry on the work. It is quite possible to get a cheap sprayer, which is, at first, adequate when run to the limit ; but no piece of inachinerj' does well for any consider- machine?"*' ^^^^ period whcu ruu to the limit, and a cheap outfit is usually a small one. You can get a barrel with a pump that will force a spray to the top of even a large elm, and I have personally worked with such an out- fit ; but it was hard on the man at the pump, the tendency was to lose pressure and too much time was lost in the fre- quent tank fillings required. Por municipalities with trees running into the thousands, power sprayers are essential, but no municipality that needs a sprayer at all, should get anything less than a 200-gallon tank uY>on which a pump capable of furnishing 100 pounds of pressure to two lines of hose should be mounted. The Insects Injurious to Shade Trees. 89 pump need not be of large capacity, for it is not expected to throw large quantities of water in a short time; but it should have a large air chamber and should be capable of supplying a maximum amount of pressure with a minimum amount of worl<. The stroke need not be long, but the lever should be long and strong, and the pump should be hori- zontal, not vertical. An up and down stroke is tiresome and cannot be long maintained without losing in strength; a liorizontal stroke may be aided by the weight of the body, and both or either hand and arm may be used. All these matters are important, because upon the amount and uni- formitv of the pressure the thoroughness of the _, ^ 'iL Tlie piunp. work depends in large measure. The working parts of the pump should be of brass, the valves and packing should be of metal and the valve seats should be readily ac- cessible. Such a piece of machinery will stand every rea- sonable strain that is likely to be put upon it, and will come out at the end of the season almost as good as it was at the beginning. It will never be worked to its limit in tree spray- ing, and with reasonable care will last many years without much expense. Such a pump is never cheap at first cost, but is a chea]> pump in the long run. Of course no piece of apparatus is entirely fool proof, and that fact should be kept in mind when hiring men to work it. There should be two lines of % hose, best (Quality, each 100 feet in length, and there should be 6 or 8 foot gas pipe spray rods, at the ends of which the nozzles should be fixed. There should be a shut-off at the base of each spray-rod and one rod should have a solid jet nozzle for reaching the tops of trees, while the other should have an adjustable or bor- deaux nozzle for making a spray to reach the lower branches. As to the poison to be used, there is nothing better than arsenate of lead for all leaf-feeding insects, and for choice I prefer the dry, powdered form because of its greater con- venience in handling and because of its keeping Arsenate qualities. If the paste form is used, it should *»* '*'"'^- be purchased on guarantee of percentage of arsenic, for it runs all the way from 12 per cent, to 20 per cent., and may 90 Shade Tuees. be a pure material in each instance. Anything that runs 15 per cent, or over is good, and nearly all the leading brands sold in the State reach that percentage. The dry material runs 30 per cent., and is therefore about twice as strong as the average paste. ISTone of the leading brands have more than a trace of soluble arsenic, and practically it is impos- sible to injure the foliage of any shade tree with any mixture likely to be put on by even an ignorant laborer. All the commercial tank sprayers have an agitator which keeps the spraying mixture stirred while pumping, and some- thing of that sort is needed in any case, so as to make sure that the material is uniform throughout the spraying period. In all cases the poison should be first mixed up with water in a pail or tub so as to get it into a smooth thin paste. This should be gradually run into the tank while filling, and the agitator should be kept constantly going, so as to get a thor- stir tbe ouglilv cvcu poisouous iiiixture to start with. mixture. Thcu, wliilc a slow Settling does begin almost immediately, it is very slow and the mixture can be kept in proper shape with very little stirring. It is always better to use u]) a tank full of mixture completely, as soon as pos- sible after it is made, and it should never be allowed to stand over night. It never stirs up quite as completely next day, and if part of a tank remains unused at the end of a day's work, better take out the plug and let it run to waste than try to save it for a future day. With a proper outfit and a good crew, the next point is to get the material on in such a way as to be most effective. An ideally eft'ective application would be one in thoroughly! w^hich evorv leaf received an even and complete coating of the spray, so that not a particle of the foliage could be eaten by any insect without its receiving at the same time a dose of poison. As we cannot hope for ideally eft'ective work, we must try and get as close to it as possible, remembering always that no one insect eats very much, and that every female specimen that gets a safe meal may lay a batch or two of eggs before getting another, and perhaps fatal, bite. Insects Injurious to Shade Teees. 91 The lesson of thoroughness cannot be too strongly incnl- cated, and it is better to be wasteful of time and material to secure this, than to do much in an unsatisfactory way. Every missed branch will stand out later, and to avoid this the crew should be taught to work in some systematic manner, so as to reach all parts of a tree. Concerning the cost of machinery and operation, no one set of figures will cover all conditions. A barrel pump outfit complete, with a short line of hose, rod and nozzle can be had for as low as fifteen or twenty dollars, ^^^^ while a power sprayer consisting of an engine, pump, 200-g'allon tank and truck may cost from three hun- dred dollars up. As for the cost of operating, this depends on the size of your apparatus, nu.mber of men necessary to operate it, num- ber of trees and their accessibility, availability of water and in fact numerous other conditions, which will not become apparent until the work is under way. Where conditions are favorable large trees are often well sprayed for as little as one dollar each. Whatever the cost, if one succeeds in checking insect ravages, he will be amply repaid by the in- creased vigor and beauty of the trees. Diseases of Shade and Forest Trees. By Mel. T. Cook^ State Plant Pathologist. The increasing appreciation of the great commercial value of our native forests, and of the importance of trees for shade and ornamental purposes, has stimulated the study of methods for the proper care of trees. This conservation movement has been emphasized by the ravages of the chest- nut blight, or bark disease, and our growing knowledge of other threatening diseases. The fact that it is possible to prevent the loss of many fine trees, which it has required years to grow, makes it very desirable that we should give careful attention to this subject. Trees, in fact all other plants, are subject to diseases which are due to more or less well kno^vn causes and are as well defined as the diseases which attack animals. f„„^^„ ^t tonuses OI Like the diseases of animals, the diseases of disease. plants may cause loss of color, loss of parts, deformities and, in some cases, death. The diseases of both animals and plants are caused by fungi, bacteria, insects, worms, unfavor- able surroundings, etc. Among animals the most common causes of disease are bacteria, while among plants the fungi are responsible for by far the greater number. A fungus is a plant which does not possess the green color- ing matter, chlorophyll, and therefore cannot draw its nour- ishment from the air, soil and water, but must live upon other plants and animals, living or dead. Those which live upon and draw their nourishment from living organisms are known as parasites and are the causes of nianv diseases ; those that live upon dead mat- and '-, 1 , mi r- saproyhytes. ter are known as saprophytes, ihe fungus may be so small as to require the use of the miscroscope in order to see it, or it may be a minute thread-like structure (93) 94: Shade Tkees. which grows over the surface of, or penetrates, its host, eventually coming to the surface to produce its fruiting bodies or sporophores. These sporophores may vary in size from the microscopic in some species to the very large structures of other species which are usually known as mush- rooms or toadstools. These familiar fruiting bodies on trees may be from parasitic fungi which cause diseases, or they may be from saprophytic fungi which follow diseases and live on the dead and decaying material. In order to defi- nitely determine this point it is necessary for the observer to be familiar with the organisms. Some of these fungus diseases are very destructive to forest, shade and ornamental trees, and every eifort should ^, ^ „ be made to eradicate or control them, but most Not all . _ ' fungi of them are of minor importance. The ma- dang^erous. . . „ , ^ jority 01 the large lungus growths are sapro- phytic, and although not the cause of diseases they destroy great quantities of timber which would otherwise be useful. Tn this paper only the more common and conspicuous dis- eases will be discussed, but some others which at the present time are of minor importance in the State will be mentioned. Any part of the plant, roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits, are subject to the attack of diseases, but the disease ciassifica- is uot always manifest at the point of attack, diseases. i. c, a discasc of the roots may frequently be detected by a dying of the leaves and branches. For con- venience the diseases of trees may be arbitrarily grouped as follows : 1. Diseases of the foliage. '2. Diseases of the stems. 3. Diseases of the roots. 4. Diseases due to environment. 5. Other diseases. Diseases of Shade and Forest Teees. 95 1. DISEASES OF THE FOLIAGE. The foliage contains the greater amount of the green color- ing matter, or chlorophyll, by which a plant is enabled to ntilize the nxw food materials which it receives from the air and soil. Therefore any great reduction of the foliage sur- face during the growing season results in a proportional reduction in the working power of the plant and also mars its beauty for ornamental purposes. Fig. 36. Chestnut Leaf Spot. (From Report of N. J. Experiment Station, 1896, Fig. 59.) Leaf Spots. These diseases are caused by a number of parasitic organ- isms, principally fungi and bacteria, which cause discolored areas on the foliage, frequently followed by a breaking out of the dead tissues, thus leaving unsightly holes. The char- acter and severity of these various leaf spots vary with the organisms to which they are due and also with climatic con- ditions. Among the most important of these leaf-spot fimgi on shade trees are the following 96 Shade Trees. Walnut. Marsonia juglandis Lib. causes a browii spot on the black walnut and butternut, gradually increasing in size and frequently covering the entire leaflet. Chestnut. Marsonia ocliroleuca B. and C. causes nu- merous circular, ashy white spots on the chestnut. (Fig. 36.) The dead tissue of these spots breaks leaving holes and the entire leaf finally turns brown and falls prematurely. Elm. Dothidea idmi Duv. attacks elms causing con- spicuous black spots. Frequently the foliage is badly in- fected and the beauty of the tree seriously marred. Maples. Rhytisma acenum Pers. attacks many of the maples, but is most severe on the silver maple, causing shiny, black, hard, slightly elevated patches commonly knovm. as tar spots. (See below.) Hoese Chestnut. Phyllosticta pavice Desm. is the cause of an important leaf spot or blotch. The spots are irregular in shape, increase rapidly in size until the greater part of the leaf is brown and has the appearance of being sun-burned. The leaves fall early and the vitality of the tree is reduced. This fungus is frequently accompanied by others which aid in its injurious work. Catalpa. p. catalpce Ell. and Mart, and Cercospora catalpce Wint. are the causes of unsightly leaf spots on the catalpa. They are frequently accompanied by Macrosporium catalpce E. and M. and Microsphcera elevata Burr. Maple. P. acericola C. and E. is the cause of a leaf spot of the maple, which is frequently so severe as to cause a pre- mature dropping of the foliage. (See above.) Treatment. The burning of the fallen leaves, thus destroying enormous numbers of spores which could otherwise be distributed by wind and water, will greatly reduce these diseases. Where practical to do so, spraying with Bordeaux mixture will hold them in check. Diseases of Shade and Forest Trees. 97 Anthracnoses. These diseases are very common and attack many different species of plants. They are due to fungi and many of them are also found on stems and fruits. On the foliage they may cause spots or holes, or a wirhering very similar to that caused by frost. syo«n.„re. The most important of the anthracnoses on shade and ornamental trees is that on the Sycamore, caused by the fungus Gnoinoriia veneta^' (Sacc. and Speg.) Kleb. In the earlier stages of the disease it follows the veins of the leaves, from which it eventually spreads. It also attacks the young shoots. In severe cases the leaves are entirely browned and withered and have very much the appearance of those in- jured by frost, for which the disease is frequently mistaken. It often kills the young shoots and sometimes kills the seed- lings and young trees. This fungus is also said to cause leaf spots on several species of oak. Treatment. Dead branches should be pruned out and the rough, loose bark which may retain the disease should be removed and burned. The trees should also be sprayed with copper sul- phate or lime-sulphur during the resting perio.l, then with Bordeaux mixture soon after opening of the buds, again in ten days and again ten days later. Powdery Mildews. The powdery mildews are due to fungi and are well kno^vn on many plants. These fungi, unlike the preceding, do not *One stage of this fungus has been described under the name Gloeosporkun nervisequmii Fold, by which it was long known and by which is was referred to in the Fourth Annual ReiJort of the Forest Park Reservation Commission of New Jersey 1908. 98 Shade Teees. penetrate the foliage, except so far as may be necessary for the formation of holdfasts, but spread over the surface of the foliage forming a delicate white web which has much the appearance of dust. One of the most important of these mildews is Micrd- sphcera aliti (Wallr.) Wint. which attacks lilacs and also occurs on the oaks, birches, dog^woods and some other plants. Another very common mildew is Uncinida salicis (D. C) Wint. which occurs on the poplars and willows. As a rule, they do not appear until late in the season and cause very little injury except to young trees and nursery stock. Treatment. SjDraying with iiotassium sulphide (1 lb. to 50 gal. of water) is an efficient remedy. Leaf Curl. The leaf curls are more or less common on many trees, the most conspicuous being the one on the peach. The most im- portant one on forest and shade trees is due to Taphrina Attacks ccerulescens (Mont, and Desm.) Tul. which **^^^' attacks the oaks causing the leaves to appear as though blistered. It is not often injurious but sometimes causes death of trees which have been affected for a number of years. Treatment. The burning of fallen leaves and spraying the trees with copper sulphate or lime-sulphur when dormant will practi- cally eliminate the pest. Diseases or Shade ain'd Foeest Teees. 99 Rusts. The rusts are among the most liighly developed of the parasitic fungi and attack foliage and fruit. Some of them are very destructive while others are compara- tively insignificant. Many of them have very '•"p»''*«"*^*'- complicated life histories and require two host plants to com- plete their life cycle and in many cases to perpetuate them- selves. One of the most conspicuous of the rusts is the Gymno- sporangium macropus * Lk., which attacks the red cedar and the apple. On the red cedar they cause the formation of the large reddish brown bodies known as "cedar ^^^^^ apples." During the period of early spring Bwies. rains the mature cedar apples produce long yellowish or oi'ange colored horns within which are produced great masses of fungus spores. These spores will not attack the cedar but are carried to neighboring apple trees where they attack the leaves, and sometimes the young twigs and fruit, causing yellowish or reddish orange spots. On the under side of each spot are produced a number of small cup-like cavities within which are borne the spores. These spores are in turn carried to the cedars where they attack the young shoots and eventually cause the formation of the next year's crop of "cedar apples." Treatment. This fungus may be held in check by removing the cedar apples early in the spring before the maturing of the orange colored horns, and by the proper spraying of the apple orchards. Among other interesting diseases of this kind are the rust, or leaf cast, of the Jersey or scrub affected "by* pine, the rust of the Scotch and pitch pines which has an alternating stage on the sweet fern, the leaf rust of the hemlock, rusts of the willows, poplars and ashes. *There are several species of Gymnosporanoium attacking cedars and with various species of tlie Pomaceje as ttieir alternating- liosts. 100 Shade Teees. ISTone of these rusts are considered serious and treatments are seldom given. The blister rust of the white pine, however, which attacks the stems is most dangerous and demands most vigorous treatment. (See page 103.) 2. DISEASES OF THE STEMS. The diseases of the stems maj be arbitrarily grouped into (a) bark diseases, (b) heart rots, (c) sap rots, and (d) twig diseases. Fig. 37. Chestnut Bark Disease. Forest tree nearly dead. Note characteristic sprouts and dwarfed leaves on sur- viving branches. (Photo by Perley Spaulding.) Diseases of Shade and Forest Trees. 101 Chestnut Bakk Disease or Blight. This is probably the most serious tree disease in America at the present time. It is caused bj' a fungus (Diaporthe parasitica ^' Murrill) which lives parasitically in the bark, sending its minute thread-like processes in all directions from the point of attack until the trunk or branch is completely girdled. (Figs. 37, 38.) It is very doubtful if the fungus can gain entrance to a tree except through wounds, and it is probably carried from. M IfM- ^Sb' ' -^ -^1 ''- . ' ■^'-0'^-'^''"'.C. f ''M- i iaBfe^-iVrt^ 1 5*V«it. • ^-'M la^^^ti^:Py''^ . ./;■ - _. ■■ y. '■ ■ ' i^K pjiHBpHa^^-i^rfl"^ '-^ '-j'W 6 [ ';' 'Y ' -.■. '■%%■ %^^y--^::m:^:^:^- '1 ^B ■';■;■- ^' ' . ■ .■ ^■'■pjj ^m •'^ .. W^^J ■ d II:- •■:'"■ ^j.^ Jfel «';.;■-■■ ■L Fig. 38. Section of Cliestniit tree killed by blight with bark in successive stages of decay and pustules in which the winter spores are borne. ( Photo by J. F. Collins.) place to place by boring insects and by birds (especially wood- peckers). It is also carried on infected timber shipped into *The proper name of this fungus is at the present time a disputed point which will require further study before it can be definitely settled. 102 . Shade Trees. uninfected territory. Many new points of infection have been traced to diseased nursery stock. E'urserj^men should Spread of ^^^e evcry caution to prevent the spread of the the disease. diseasc by keeping a careful oversight of their stock. Unfortunately, the disease cannot alv^ays be detected at the time of shipment, and therefore young trees should be kept under careful supervision by the grower. It is im- wise at this time to plant chestnut in this State, and growers in territory beyond the present range of the disease should be absolutely sure of the healthy character of the stock used for planting. The spread of the disease has been so rapid, the destruction of our chestnut growth so great, and the financial losses so heavy, that it has attracted more attention than any other plant disease in recent years. Large sums of money are being expended in fighting it, but up to the present time no satisfactory method has been devised. The planting of chestnuts in the infected districts is a waste of both time and money. Treatment. Individual trees and small plantings may be protected to some extent by frequently cutting out the diseased parts and painting the wounds with coal tar. In doing this all the prunings must be burned. When forest areas become af- fected their final destruction is practically certain, and the o^Tiers are advised to convert the entire chestnut growth into salable material as rapidly as possible. Otherwise it will prove a complete loss. Material too small for lumber should have the bark removed. All waste material should be burned at once. The severity of this disease, the rapidity of its spread, and the desire of the people to protect their trees have de- veloped a most fertile field for the quack tree-doctors who are claiming to cure trees by secret methods. These Tree fakirs. '=' . "^ . methods usually consist m putting secret prep- . arations under the bark or in the soil about the roots of the trees. Similar methods have been used for other tree Diseases of Shade and Forest Trees. 103 diseases in various parts of the country, but without success. There are no such treatments for diseases of this character known to science, and the authors of these secret methods freely acknowledge that their treatments are not recognized by scientific workers. The public is cautioned against patronizing these people. White Pine Blister Rust. The blister rust (Feridermium strohi Klebahn" ) of the white pine, a European disease which has been introduced into this country and apparently stamped out, but which may be introduced again at any time, causes a spindle shaped, or sometimes irregular warty swelling on the gj.,„y^^„,^, trunks of seedlings and young trees and upon the young branches of older trees. (Fig. 39.) Those swellings do not occur until one or more years after the ni- fection, which makes it impossible to detect the disease in its earliest stages. As these swellings approach maturity they form on the surface rounded or elongated bodies measur- ing one-eighth to one-half inch across. The bodies have deli- cate, whitish membrane coverings beneath which may be seen masses of orange-colored spores. This membrane ruptures, allowing the spores to escape (April to June), but may per- sist for some time after the spores have been carried away. If the spores are carried to gooseberries or cur- Aiteruating rants they attack the foliage and young shoots »'*"**''• and cause the "velvet rust" which produces two kinds of spores, one kind by which the fungus can spread on the gooseberries and currants and another by which it is returned to the white pines. The disease is of very little importance on the gooseberries and currants, but is very destructive on the white and other of the five-leaved pines. It attacks none of those with two or three needles. *Periaermium stroM Klebahn of the white and other five-leaved pines is the same as Cronartium ribicola Diet, of the cui-rant and gooseberry. 104 Shade Trees. Fig. 39. _ White Pine Blister Enst. A. A four-year-old tree with the disease; B. Leaf of Ribes aureum showing nredospore stage; C. Portion of same enlarged; D. Leaf of Eibes (imericanum showing teleutospore stage. (From Bui. 206, Bureau of Plant In- dustry, U. S. Dept. Agricul.) Diseases of Shade and Forest Teees. 105 AVithiii the past few years the demand for white i3iues for reforestation and for ornamental plantings has been so great that large numbers of the seedlings have been imported from Euroj)e. The disease has been introduced on these seedlings and distributed to many localities in the United States, but fortunately has been kept in subjection. The disease is very destructive to seedlings and youno; trees and, ,^ ^ while not always destructive, is very injurious tiveness. on the older trees. Therefore we should use the greatest caution to prevent its getting a foothold in this country. Treatment. It is not advisable to plant five-leaved pines of European origin. Always use American grown seedlings. Even then the plants should be carefully examined from time to time, and in case the disease appears they should be destroyed im- mediately by burning. There is no known remedy for the disease, and absolutely no safe course to pursue other than burning the diseased plants. CoKAL Spots. The coral spots on the bark of trees and shrubs are due to fungi belonging to the genus JSTectria. They are readily recognized bv the small brightly colored red or orange fruit- ing bodies. There are a number of species, but the most important is N. cinnabarinna (Tode) Er. which attacks the maple, horse-chestnut and many other deciduous trees. The fungus gains entrance to its host through wounds, gradually spreads, forming well defined cankers within which will be found the highly colored fruiting bodies. When once well established it may spread rapidly from plant to plant and become epidemic. This fungus also attacks currant bushes and pear trees. 106 Shade Tkees. Treatment. The only practical method of control consists in cntting and burning diseased parts. Black Knots. These nnsightlv growths occnr on the twigs and leaves of some trees. Among the most important are those on the plums and cherries which are caused by the fungus (Ploiv- rightia morbosa Sacc), and those upon the hazel caused by the fungus (Cryptosporella anomala Pk.). Treatment. They are of no very great importance on shade trees, but can be controlled by cutting out and burning early in the fall and by spraying with copper sulphate or lime-sulphuv before the buds open in the spring. Witches' Brooms. These conspicuous and unsightly growths are quite com- mon and are due to the attacks of both fungi and insects which cause the formation of masses of short twigs and are sometimes mistaken for mistletoe growths. (See page 107.) The most common and most conspicuous is the one on the hackberry. (Celtis occidentalis L.) This is so common that it is extremely difficult to find a tree that does not have them, and many people consider them a characteristic growth of the hackberry. However, they are a disease, and if the tree is kept free from them, it makes a very beautiful growth. The disease is said to be due to two parasitic organisms, a powdery mildew {Spoerotheca pliytoptophUa Kell and S. W.) and a mite (Eriophyes sp.) Diseases of Sh.vde aintd Forest Trees. 107 Some of the species of the cedar rust (Gymnosporangium) (see page 99) and the leaf curl fungi (see page 98) are also the cause of witches' brooms which die and are broken out by the wind storms, thus leaving irregular and unsightly trees. 2')-i'atment. As witches' broom is more unsightly than harmful, it may be ignored or the trees may be pruned as for other defects. jNIistletoes. Mistletoes are true flowering plants which live parasitically upon many of our native trees. The common ilmerican mistletoe {Phoradendron fiavescens (Pursh) jSTutt. is rare in Xew Jersey, occurring mostly on the black gum and red maple. AVhere very abundant they are considered serious enemies. It will be readily recognized that parasites of this kind will naturally retard and stunt the growth of the tree. They are also the cause of unsightly swellings and some of them cause witches' brooms. Their life is usually shorter than that of the trees on Avhich they live, and when they die and decay they leave cavities SXn'^e"'"™ which are especially favorable for the introduc- tion of pathogenic fungi and other organisms of disease. ]\Iistietoes are so rare in this State that most people will be inclined to look upon them as objects of interest rather than as serious pests. Treatment. They can be controlled by priming out the diseased parts and painting the wounds with white lead or coal tar. 108 Shade Trees. Heart Rots. Heart rots are extremely destructive to both living and dead trees. They are due to a number of fungi, many of v^hich are both parasitic and sai3rophytic. The fact that many of these organisms will live on the dead wood from which they readily pass to the living trees makes it very important that all such dead and decaying material be re- moved and burned. White Heaet Rot. This is a true disease caused by the false tinder fungus, Fomes igniarius (L.) Gillet. It attacks the beech, aspen, willows, maples, birches, walnuts, oaks, hickory, apple, etc. The organism gains entrance through wounds and grows in the heart wood which it trans- Trees attacked- Fig 40. Fomes igniarius on a living aspen. (From Bui. 149, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agricul.) forms into a white pulpy mass bounded by one or more black layers. During this period of decay the disease cannot be detected from the outside but after the fungus has progressed two or three feet from the point of entrance it comes to the Diseases of Shade akd Forest Trees. 109 surface and produces its siDorophores or fruiting bodies. (Fig. 40.) These fruiting bodies usually occur at the original wound and are rather conspicuous but variable in shape, size and color. They may be described as hoof- Fruiting shaped, almost as thick as broad, and some- »>odies. times measuring as much as twelve inches in diameter. The upper surface is smooth when j^oung, becoming concentri- cally marked as it grows older. The outer part is hard, brown, gradually becoming black and cracked with age. The pores within which the spores are produced are formed in layers on the underside. The under surface is gray or red- browai in color, varying with the season. The disease works rather slowly, gradually weakening the tree until it is broken by storms. It is one of the most widely distributed of tree diseases and causes enormous losses which, from their wide geographical distribution and wide range of host plants, are extremely difficult to estimate. See also Polyporus sp., p. 111. Treatment. The most satisfactory treatment for shade and ornamental trees is preventive. When trees become infected the dis- eased parts should be removed and the wounds properly cared for as recommended on page 44. Red Heart Rot. This rot is caused by the parasitic fungus (Polyporus sul- ■phureus (Bull.) Fr.). It attacks the oaks, chestnut, maples, walnuts, locusts, alder, ash, poplar, willows, apple, etc., and is widely distributed throughout ISTorth T,.epj, America and Europe. It gains entrance ^^^tacKea. through wounds and causes the heart wood to rot and be- come reddish brown or black, the color varying somewhat with the host plant. After a period of growth within the wood, it comes to the surface producing a number of large 110 Shade Teees. shelving sporophores or fruiting bodies (Fig. 41) frequently overlapping. When young the upper surfaces are a bright orange-red with a brighter red rim, very moist, and turn Fig. 41. Polyporus sulfureus on red oak. (Photo by Dr. W. A. Murrill, N. Y. Botanic Garden. ) Fruitin bodies. brown when bruised. When mature they are hard, dry, brittle and sulphur colored. They are usually destroyed very early by insects. The treat- ment is the same as for the white heart rot. P. rohinice '" Murrill attacks the black locust through wounds and comj^letely destroys the heart wood of living trees. The rot begins at the center of the heart and spreads *P. rohinia; Mui'rill=:P. rimosus Berkeley. Diseases of Shade and Forest Trees. Ill radially, causing the wood to become soft and yellowish or brownish in color. The sporo- hearTrot. phores are large and shelving and usually al- most twice as wide laterally as from front to back. The ])roper care of wounds will help to control the disease but it is frequently distributed by the locust borer. (See page 83.) The diseased ])arts should be removed and destroyed and the wounds treated. P. ju 11 i peri II us Schrenk attacks old red cedar trees caus- ing a white heart rot. The fungus probably gains extrance to thf tree through dead branches which are most common in old trees. The wood gradually loses its color, becomes whitish and eventually undergoes disintegration leaving holes through the center of branches and trunk. Fruiting bodies are seldom' formed. The removal of dead branches and diseased parts will reduce the possibility of infection. P. carneus JSTees. also causes a Avhite heart rot of both the red cedar and arboiTit^e. It has been reported in this State as occurring on dead logs but no doubt is Heart rots also parasitic. The disease is characterized by and*^arb^-' the formation of pockets or holes containing ^'"'^• more or less bro'^vn charcoal-like rotten wood. In advanced stages these holes frequently unite. It should be treated the same as the preceding. P. ohiusus Berk, causes a soft heart rot of certain species of the oak but is not of such great importance here as farther west. It is readily distributed by the oak borer (Prionoxys- tus robinice Peck). It spreads rapidly up and dov/n the trunk and branches causing the heart oak heart wood to become soft, white and brittle and very easily broken in slight storms. The sporophores are hoof- shaped, almost white when young, but changing with age to a light brown. P. fraxinophilus Pk. is the cause of an im- , , ' ^ . . Asli rot. portant disease of the white ash in the Middle West. It occurs as far east as Albany, jSTew York, but has not been reported from ITew Jersey. P. squamosus (Huds) Fr. is not common and is known 112 Shade Trees. White rot. ^^^^^' ^^^ ^^® northern part of the United States. It gains entrance to living trees through wounds, causing a white heart rot. It has been reported on maples, oaks, elm, basswood, willow and ash. Pohjstictus vesicolor (L.) Fr. (see below) is the cause of a soft heart rot of the catalpa. The disease slarts in the center of the trunk or branch, causing the wood to turn pale and finally a straw yellow color. The diseased wood becomes soft and pithy and easily broken. The disease can usually Catalpa ^6 rccogiiized by the holes which are formed heart rot. where diseased branches have been broken off. Trees in the open are not so likely to be attacked as those grown in crowded conditions which result in the natural dying of the lower branches. Treatment. Careful pruning and treatment of wounds will prove ample protection for shade and ornamental trees. Sap Rots. The sap rots are the cause of considerable losses, and al- though it is impossible to draw a sharp line of distinction between those which are parasitic and those which are sapro- phytic, the majority of the sap rot fungi must be considered primarily saprophytes. Among the most important are the following : The sap rot caused by the fungus {Polystictus versicolor (L.) Fr.) is a true saprophyte, except on the Catalpa (see above), and attacks cut and fallen timber of many kinds. Although more of a saprophyte than a para- posts, poies site, the wide distribution and ffreat abundance of this fungus demands that it should receive some attention in this publication. It is especially destruc- tive on railroad ties, posts and poles. It grows in the sap wood, causing a decay and eventually forming its charac- Diseases of Shade ais'd Forest Trees. ii; teristic thin, tongh, leathery, shelving sporophores. (Fig- 42.) They are variable in size, frequently very numerous and o^'erlapping. The upper surface is marked with con- Fig. 42. Polystictus versicolor on dead bark. (From Eeport of Penn. Forestry, 1902, Plate XXII.) centric zones of various colors while the imder surface is usually white. The pores of the under surface, within which the spores are borne, are very small and regular. Another sap rot is caused by Polystictus per game nus Fr. It is usually found on dead trees and is quite common on trees that have been injured by fire. It also occurs on living 8 114 Shade Teees. oaks, red gum. maples, bircli, chestnut, hickory, tulip, poplar, . . black cherry, beech, willows and others, especi- Attaoks iu- "^ ' ' . . . ' / jured trees ally thosB that have been injured, and is widely distributed throughout [N^orth America. How- ever, it has been questioned whether this fungus ever occurs on the li^-ing parts of trees. The general appearance of the decay is very similar to that caused by P. versicolor. (Fig, 42.) The fruiting bodies are leathery, generally white when young but growing gray with age, the upper surface slightly hairy and the lower surface purplish; the pores are small and tend to produce a ragged surface with age. Treatment. Protection from injury and the proper care of wounds will practically prevent the occurrence of this disease. P, hetuUnus (Bull) Fr. is the cause of a sap rot on several species of birch and other trees, but whether parasitic or saprophytic is a disputed point. The same is true of P. fomentarius (L.) Fr. Follies apvlanatus (Pers.) Wallr., one of the most con- spicuous of our shelving fungi is said to cause a sap rot disease on cottonwoods. However, on most trees it must be considered purely saprophytic. There are a large number of other sap rots ^a*ithyf*^^ due to a number of species of fungi occurring on many species of trees. Most of them are saprophytic, but some of them are or may become parasitic, especially on trees which are weakened from other causes. 3. DISEASES OF THE ROOTS. The diseases of roots are very imperfectly understood. They may be due to unfavorable soil conditions, or to fungi, or to both. Probably the most important of these diseases is the rot due to the fungus Armillaria mellea (Vahl.) Que- Diseases of Shade a:xd Forest Trees. 115 let, which is widely distributed throughout Xonh America. The fungus usually gains entrance through w-ounds, but some authorities claim that it will con""on root rot. attack uninjured roots. It causes a decay of the roots, thus cutting off the supply of water and food from the soil and eventually causing the death of the tree. In the roots and surrounding soil will be found the so-called "shoe strings"- — hard black strands of the fundus which branch and interlace, dra^v nourishment from the decaying m^^ ^^^^■Ife Jm llfflH \li ^^!!>\.^V^|^^ f- mmam Fig. 43. Armillaria mellea. Parasitic on the roots of many trees. (Courtesy of New York Botanic Garden.) wood, and finally give rise to the fruiting bodies. The fruit- ing bodies, a form of mushroom (Fig. 43) appear to grow from the soil, are honey colored, the upper surface viscid and specked with white ; the gills of the lower surface white and giving off great quantities of spores ; the stems are swollen at the base and have a distinct ring below the umbrella shaped top. Treatment. ISTewly cleared land in which this disease is prevalent should not be set to trees of anv kind. When the disease IIG Shade Teees. becomes abundant tliere is no successful method of control. Diseased trees should be burned, but it is not safe to plant young trees in the same soil. Gas. ^ . . Iliuminatins: gas escaping from defective Gas injury. . . o o i o pipes impregnates the soil, poisons the roots and causes the death of trees. The remedy for this is evi- dent, but in replanting it is frequently necessary to remove the soil from a considerable area and refill with a fresh supply from outside sources. (See page 28.) 4. DISEASES DUE TO ENVIRONMENT. Plants respond readily to their surroundings, and (in a state of nature, undisturbed by man) the best growths will always be found where the surroundings are most favorable. The most important natural factors which influence the growth of plants are soiL water and temperature. The soil may be unfavorable to plant gro^vth owing to the lack, or improper proportions, of food substances ; or it may be too shallow or may not hold the proper amount of water. The toater content of the soil is an important factor, varying with the requirements of the various species of plants. The amount of water that may be unfavorable for a tree will fre- quently be favorable for the organisms of disease. Tem- perature is also an imjDortant factor, both as causing direct injuries which may retard the growth of trees or cause their death, and by making it possible for fungi and other destruc- tive organisms to 2:ain entrance. S'inolce, gases, etc., are also the causes of many injuries and heavy losses. When trees stand close together, the ef- fects of smoke and free gases are first noticed in the tops, but in single trees the injuries msij be distributed through- out the crown. As in cases of poisoning by illuminating gas (page 20), the first symptoms are discoloration of the young Diseases of Shade aistd Foeest Teees. 117 leaves followed by slow dying, reduction in the rate of growth of the twigs and, in fact, of the tree generally. Eventually the t^\'ig5 die and finally the branches and trunks. The different kinds of trees show varying degrees of re- sisrance and, therefore, trees in the vicinity of furnaces, snielrers, mills, etc., will not show an equal degree of injury from the central point ; some species of trees at considerable distances from the course of smoke and gas may be killed while i:)ther species very uear may continue to live for many years. "The order of susceptibility, beginning with the trees most easily killed, is as follows : * "White pine {Finns sirohus L.), Hemlock (Tsuga sp.). Scrub i^ine {Pinus virginiana Mill.), Pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.), Chestnut oak (Querciis prinus L.), Hickory (Hicoria sp.). Black-jack {Quercus viarilandica Muench.), ^Vhite oak {Quercus alba L. ), Post oak {Quercus minor (]\Iarsh.) Sargent), Chestnut {Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Porkh. ), Spanish oak {Quercus digitata (Marsh.) Sud- W(irtli), Scarlet oak {Quercus coccinea Muench.), Tulip pop- lar {Liriodendron tulipifera L.), Maple {Acer sp.). Black gum {Nyssa sylraiica Marsh.)." Treatment. The injuries are greatest to leeward of the prevailing winds. They can be overcome in a great measure by the construction of tall smokestacks which will carry the in- jurious gases into the higher strata of air. Devices for con- densing the gases, such as passing through water, have been used with some degree of success. There is no satisfactory treatment so long as trees are exposed to the abnormal en- vironments. The causes must be removed. Dust from cement and other establishments has also proved to be the cause of some injuries. When cement dust settles ♦Taken from Bulletin No. 1-10, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Diseases of Deciduous Forest Trees. Herman Von Sbreuk and Perley Spaulding. 118 Shade Trees. on the foliage, and is wet by the rains it "sets'' and shuts ont the light to some extent and reduces the working effici- ency of the plant. 5. OTHER DISEASES. Seed bed disease. "Damping off" is one of the most destruc- tive diseases of very young plants, especially coniferous trees. It is due to fungi which are semi-sapro- phytic in habit, living in wet, decaying organic matter, especially in manure. These organisms become especially active under the warm, moist conditions which are favorable for the germination of the seeds and for the growth of the young plants. The fungi attack these seedlings at the sur- face of the ground causing them to wilt, fall over and die. The fungi continue to live on the dead plants and spread to the living seedlings. The disease is especially prevalent in seed beds and in nature where the plants are growing in crowded conditions. These diseases are responsible in a great measure for the difficulties in growing coniferous seed- lings and other nursery stock in America. Treatment. The "damping oil;"' fungi can be controlled to some extent in various ways. (>ne of the most common practices is that of burning a large quantity of vegetable material on the surface of the bed before planting. Formalin disfection of the soil is also used extensively. By this method the beds are thoroughly prepared and then drenched with a formalin solution (1 jjart commercial formalin to 150 to 200 parts water) using three or four quarts to each square foot of bed surface. The beds should then be covered with burlap for 24 hours and after that thoroughly aired for about a week. Tn some cases it may be necessary to make two or three ap- plications, dependent on the character of the soil. This Diseases of Shade axd Forest Trees. 119 treatment must be used with care, as it will sometimes re- duce the germinating power of the seeds. Insects are the cause of many diseases, among the most interesting of which are the cecidia or galls. These ab- normal growths occur on roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits and are due to insect injuries, in most cases the insects making their homes for a considerable part of their lives within the li'alls. Some of them are very in- '^ , . -^ Galls not ] uncus, but most of those occurring on trees often . '^ harmful. are considered oi littie importance. However, individual plants are frequently so seriously affected as to mar their beauty and no doubt reduce their vitality. The great regularity of shape, color and markings of these galls will always make them objects of great interest to both scientist and layman, and future studies will probably prove them to be the cause of greater injuries than we now at- tribute to them. Fortunately, owing to the migratory char- acter of the insects, most species of insect galls do not occur two or more years in succession on the same trees. Some few species can be sprayed to advantage with insecticides, but in most cases where the pests become troublesome it will be found necessary to prune and destroy the diseased parts before the insects emerge. Abnormal structures are also formed as a result of fungus, bacterial and mechanical injuries. Animal injuries of various kinds are frequently the open- ings by which fungi and other organisms of disease gain entrance to the host plants. Insects, birds, squirrels and other animals are also the distributers of many diseases bv makino- wounds and carryins: the promote <■' ~ I, o disease. organisms from ])lace to place. Storms also aid in the work of destruction by breaking branches and thus causing wounds which immediately become sources of infec- tion. 120 Shade Teees. METHODS OF CONTROL. It will be readily seen that the treatment of trees must be prijnarily protective, rather than curative. It is impos- sible to use orchard methods in the forests and Prevention better than frequently impractical to use such methods on cure. 0 Food, tree 24, 25 Footing 11, 17, 20» 23 Fornralin 118 Frost, susceptibility of trees to 8 Fruiting bodies 94, 105 109, 110, 113, 115 Fungi 93-122 Fungicides 96-98, 120, 121 G. Galls 119 Gas 28-30, 116, 117 Ginkgo 8, 13, 60 Grade, street, changes in... 50-52, 62 Gratings 23, 24 Grass underneath trees. . 24, 53, 54 Growing space, see footing. Growth, rapidity of 8 Guards .. .5, 11, 19, 21, 23, 27, 28, 36 Guys 27 Gum, black 61 diseases of 107, 117 red or sweet 8,12-14,61 diseases of 114 H. Hackberry 13, 14, 56. 61 diseases of 106 PAGES. Hardiness of trees 8 Hawthorn 53 Heading in 40 Head room under trees 18 Heart rots 10S-H2, 120 Hemlock 53 diseases of 99, 117 Hickory 14 diseases of 108, 114, 117 insects affecting 83,84 Hole, the 18 Holly 56 Horse bites 21, 36 Horse chestnut 8, 12, 13, 61 diseases of 96, 105 I. Improvements, municipal anticipated 52 Injuries 21, 26-36, 93, 116, 119 Insects 67-91, 106, 119 Insecticides 68, 69, 72-76, 78 SO, 81, 83-89 Insects attack weakened trees 82 K. Kerosene emulsion 73, 75, 78 L. Larch 53 Large trees 53 Lawn mower 36, 54 Lawn trees 53, 56 Lead arsenate, see arsenate of lead. Leaf burn S Leaf cast 99 Leaf curl 98, 107 Leaf spots 95,96 Lice, plant 85, 86 Light, influence of upon trees 37 Lime 27 Lime-sulphur ... .78, 80, 97, 98, 121 Linden, see hasswood. Location of trees 17 Locust 9. 13, 14, 56, 62 diseases of 109, 110 insects affecting 14,83 M. Magnolia 53 Maple 9-12, 38, 43, 63 ash leaf, see how elder. Norway 8,13,14.56,63 red 8. 13. 56. 63 Index. 127 I'AGES. Maple — ■ silver, or white 8, 9, 13 14, 49, 56, 63 sugar 54 diseases of 63,96, 105 107-10i9, 112, 114, 117 insects atTecting 72-74 76, 78, 82, 85, 86 Mildews 97, 98 Mistletoes 107 Mortar 27 Mountain ash 53 Mulberry 9 N. Neatness in trees 9 Nourishment 24, 25, 53 Nursery stock, diseased 102 O. Oak 54-56,64 bur 64 chestnut 56, 64 English 64 pin 8, 13, 14, 38, 54, 56, 64 red 8, 13, 56, 64 scarlet 13, 14, 56, 64 swamp white 64 white 8, 13, 64 diseases of 97, 98, 108 109, 111, 112, 114, 117 insects affecting 68,69 74, 75, 111 Old trees, treatment of. . .40, 41, 49 Oyster shell bark louse 74 Parasites 93 Paris green 68,69,72,76,85 Pavements 8, 24 Pepperidge, see hlack gum. Pine 56 maritime 56 Jersey (scrub) diseases of 99, 117 pitch, diseases of 99, 117 Scotch, diseases of 99 white, diseases of 103, 117 white, insects affecting. . 87 Plane, see sycamore. Planting time 15 Planting, tree 19, 20 Police regulations 21, 36 Poplar 9, 13, 14, 56 diseases of 98, 99, 109, 114 insects affecting 78 PAGES. Potassium sulphide .... 98, 121, 122 Powdery mildews 97, 98, 106 Pruning 8, 18, 20, 37-44, 102 interior 37, 43 Prune, time to 43 Public service 26, 35, 52 R. Red bud ■ 53 Red gum 12 Roots 17-20, 25-28, 38 disea.ses of 114-116 Root suckers 14 Rusts 99 Salt 28 San Jose scale 79 Sap lifter 39, 41 Saprophytes 93 Sap rots 112-114, 120 Scalecide 77, 80, 81 Scurfy scale 7S Seasliore trees 55 Serviceberry 53 Sliade endurance 54 Shade, too much 9, 16 Shade Tree Commissions ... 26, 36 43, 51, 52 Shade Tree Federation 53 Sidev/alks 17, 50 Silverbell 53 Size of street trees 17 Smoke 116 Soil 7, 14, 19. 116 Sourwood 53 Spacing 5, 16, 17 Sparrows, English 74 Splits, in trees 42, 49 Sporopliores 94, 113 Spraying . . .68, 69, 72, 73, 75-77, 78 80, 81, 86-88, 96, 97-99, 106, 120 See also insecticides and fungicides. cost of 91 machines ,. 88-90, 122 Spring planting 15 Spruce 54-56 Spurs, climbing 35 Stakes, tree 19-21 Starvation, signs of 25 Starving trees 24 Stems, diseases of 100,114 Sticky bands 68,69 cu^w^. 128 Index. ' PAGES. Street trees, requirements of 7 Sycamore 8, 13, 14, 55, 56, 64 diseases of 97 96 factor Tar spots . . Temperature, disease Topping Treatment of cavities Tree fakirs 43 Trees, cultivation of Trees not recommended. ... 9, 13 Trees, what to plant. .8, 13, 14, 56 Tulip poplar 8,13,38,65 diseases of 114, 117 insects affecting SO Tupelo, see Macli gum. lib 40 45 102 8 U. Uniformity in trees. Value of trees .12 26 \v. Walnut 14 diseases of 96,108,109 Water 24, 116 Well, tree 50, 51 Wliale oil soap 73,75 78, 80, 81, 85-87 White marked tussock motli White pine blister rust... IDS' White pine weevil Willow diseases of 9 108, 109, 112 Wind breaks 5 Wiring rules 3 Wires, electric 3 W^itches' broom 61 Wood leopard moth .... Wounds 42,44,47 49,50 68 105 87 14 , 99 , 114 3, 55 5, 36 1-36 , 106 73 ', 120 Yellow-wood 53 LBAp'I3 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DDDDTESbSD?