No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUL.TUKE ;121 



ORNAMENTATION OF AVENUES. 



The planting of avenues with ornamental trees affords an opportu- 

 nity for diversified taste and effects. Whether the wants of a specu- 

 lative land company who desire to mark out streets by planting 

 trees, and are anxious to obtain the cheapest and quickest results, 

 regardless of quality are to be met, with such varieties as silver 

 leaved maple and Carolina poplar; or whether more enduring and 

 graceful effects are sought after in the selection of the Norway or 

 sugar maple or other trees of this character, we cannot but admit 

 that each has its place; each are useful in their way. The newer in- 

 troduction from the Orient will very probably some day divide 

 honors with the aforementioned sorts. For surely the Oriental 

 Plane tree or European buttonwood combines characteristics of 

 rapid growth with compact dense form of habit, large foliage, and 

 longevity to a degree that make its increased demand self evident. 

 We believe the better this variety becomes known the more gen- 

 erally will it be planted. 



The effect of avenues planted with cut-leaved birch, where loca- 

 tion and climate are suitable, is very striking and worthy of imita- 

 tion where novelty is more desirable than dense shade. The Salis- 

 buria Japan Guigko, or Maiden Hair tree, may be classed among the 

 comparatively odd or grotesque avenue trees which is being increas- 

 ingly sought after, as differing materially from the old standbys, 

 such as elms, maples or poplars. The oddity of its growth, the ir- 

 regularity of its branches and the peculiar shape of its leaves all 

 have a relieving effect. Of all the choice avenue trees where time is 

 not the sole object sought after in obtaining results, where the soil 

 is not contaminated with city gas, coal ashes, cinders or other evi- 

 dence of advanced civilization injurious to tree growth, and where 

 the air is equally free from poisons, for such a choice location, we 

 know of nothing handsomer than the oak, either the Pin, Red, or 

 Scarlet oak. The symmetrical habit, the beauty of summer and 

 autumn foliage, their longevity and general appearance characterize 

 the oaks as a class of trees that have few equals and no superiors. 



LAWN ORNAMENTATION. 



Having thus discussed avenue ornamentation, we will turn to the 

 lawn and grounds surrounding a dwelling where formerly the plant- 

 ing of a few straight rows of trees at right angles was considered 

 all that was necessary to supply shade, whilst the occasional inter- 

 mingling of a few large growing evergreens and an occasional flower- 

 ing shrub planted singly completed the requisites for a finished 

 lawn. Contrast this with the advancement of to-day, w*hen the 

 shade is provided by the selection of somehandsomo growing decidn 

 21—7—1900 



