EXAMPLES OF THE INTERVIEW ARTICLE.  As a timely special feature story for Arbor Day, a Washington correspondent used the following interview with an expert as a means of giving readers practical advice on tree-planting: 

    ARBOR DAY ADVICE

WASHINGTON, April 1.—­Three spadefuls of rich, pulverized earth will do more to make a young tree grow than a 30-minute Arbor day address by the president of the school board and a patriotic anthem by the senior class, according to Dr. Furman L. Mulford, tree expert for the department of agriculture.

Not that Dr. Mulford would abbreviate the ceremonies attendant upon Arbor day planting, but he thinks that they do not mean much unless the roots planted receive proper and constant care.  For what the Fourth of July is to the war and navy departments, and what Labor day is to the department of labor, Arbor day is to the department of agriculture.

While the forestry bureau has concerned itself primarily with trees from the standpoint of the timber supply, Dr. Mulford has been making a study of trees best adapted for streets and cities generally.  And nobody is more interested than he in what Arbor day signifies or how trees should be chosen and reared.

“We need trees most where our population is the thickest, and some trees, like some people, are not adapted to such a life,” said Dr. Mulford.  “For street or school yard planting one of the first considerations is a hardy tree, that can find nourishment under brick pavements or granite sidewalks.  It must be one that branches high from the ground and ought to be native to the country and climate.  America has the prettiest native trees and shrubs in the world and it is true patriotism to recognize them.

“For Southern states one of the prettiest and best of shade trees is the laurel oak, and there will be thousands of them planted this spring.  It is almost an evergreen and is a quick growing tree.  The willow oak is another.

    “A little farther north the red oak is one of the most desirable,
    and in many places the swamp maple grows well, though this latter
    tree does not thrive well in crowded cities.

“Nothing, however, is prettier than the American elm when it reaches the majesty of its maturity and I do not believe it will ever cease to be a favorite.  One thing against it, though, is the ‘elm beetle,’ a pest which is spreading and which will kill some of our most beautiful trees unless spraying is consistently practised.  China berry trees, abundant in the South, and box elders, native to a score of states, are quick growing, but they reach maturity too soon and begin to go to pieces.”

    “What is the reason that so many Arbor day trees die?” Dr. Mulford
    was asked.