REPORT OF GREENE COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 145 



one of the most beautiful of trees ; and it is especially adapted to streets 

 and avenues as it can be made to grow with ^reat uniformity on almost 

 any kind of soil. But it attains its greatest luxuriousness and beauty 

 on rich, loamy damp soil. 



The American white ash is one of our very finest shade trees and 

 is becoming so popular that it now stands almost in the front as a shade 

 tree. It is now being planted largely in parks and on streets and 

 boulevards, and no American tree presents a finer form or greater 

 beauty of dark glossy green foliage than does this almost invaluable 

 tree. And when it is remembered that the ash is one of our most rapid 

 growers and valuable timber trees, we can scarcely say too much in 

 its praise. The sugar maple is so well known and is so universally ad- 

 mired that it is scarcely worth while to give it more than a passing 

 notice. But whilst it is a great favorite with the writer of this essay, 

 I deem it my duty to call attention to some objections to it. It is a 

 very slow growing tree in the nursery, and consequently cannot be put 

 upon the market at as low figures as many other trees. When trans- 

 planted it grows very slowly for two or more years. When planted in 

 rows, as for instance on streets, it is nearly impossible to maintain that 

 perfect uniformity so much to be desired and so easily obtained in 

 other varieties ; and lastly, it has a tendency to hold a large portion of 

 its dry and unsightly leaves in winter, and after it passes twenty-five 

 or thirty years of age it becomes scraggy and open and requires con- 

 siderable special treatment to keep it in good form. 



The American white elm is one of our most desirable shade trees 

 and will maintain its symmetry and beauty for a greater number of years 

 perhaps than any other American tree that is easily transplanted. But 

 notwithstanding this variety of the elm is found growing from Wis 

 consin to the Gulf, it is not as healthy or hardy here as many other 

 of our indigenous trees, but it is comparatively safe to plant it here, 

 and it will no doubt maintain its popularity as an especial favorite 

 with the lovers of fine trees. The box alder is a rapid growing tree of 

 fine form, and is perfectly healthy and hardy, and should have a con- 

 spicuous place in all lawns and parks and also in all door yarJs where 

 the space is large enough to admit of a variety of trees. The American 

 Linden is a fine tree, and well grown specimens present a grand and 

 tropical appearance. It is somewhat ditficult to propagate from seeds 

 and is su'')ject to bo preyed upon by caterpillars, and is objectionable 

 merely on this account. 



The Calalpa Speciosa, where a fast growing tree is desired for pur- 

 poses of shade, probably has no superior. Its rapid growth is most 



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