310 Sln/e Ilorliciilh.iral Society. 



The Biir-Oak (Mossy-cup oak, Over-cup oak) {Qiici'cus luacrocarf^a. 

 Michx.) is well adapted for a shade tree ou the street or lawn. Mature 

 specimens are frequently one hundred feet high and have a diameter at 

 the base of three and a half feet. It thrives best in rich loam and is 

 especially valuable for ]irairie planting". 



The Chestnut Oak (Yellow Oak) {Qiicrcus acuuiinala Michx; Sarg.) 

 grows well in dry soil, especially along limestone ridges. 



The l\ed f)ak (Qiicrciis rubra, L.) is the most rapid grower of all 

 the oaks. It thrives on all s'oils except an undrained one. 



Of the Hickories, most persons will jirefer the Shagbark or Shell- 

 bark (Ilicoria in\tla Mill.; P.ritton). It comes into ])earing when quite 

 young and ])ro(luces excellent, large nuts. The tree does not succeed 

 well on poor, dry, or wet soils. 



Elms, although natives of the swamp, grow well and remain perfectly 

 thrifty in a great variety of soils. The White Elm (Ulniiis Americana, 

 L.) is one of the most valuable trees for street planting. 



The Silver Maple (White Maple) (Acer saccJuirimnn, L.) is exten- 

 sively planted throughout the state as a shade tree. It grows rapidly, 

 and, if properly pruned, makes a handsome tree ; but it is often so seri- 

 ously damaged by severe winds and hail-storms that it has little value as a 

 shade tree. The trees should be pruned to form numerous small branches 

 instead of a few large ones, as the latter are easily broken by severe winds. 

 In many respects the Sugar or Rock Maple (Acer sacchoruin. Marsh.) is 

 more satisfactory than the white maple. It grows to a height of seventy - 

 five feet and forms a very compact top. It is a fairly rapid and persistent 

 grower, and endures a moderate amount of shade. Storms and high winds 

 do not damage this tree as they do the White Maple. 



In localities where the soil is n'ot too compact, one may plant the 

 Locusts. They grow rapidly when young, but need plenty of light. The 

 Yellow (or Black) Locust (Rohinia pseudacacia, L.) is more desirable 

 for streets and lawns than the Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacautheos, L.) 

 It is, however, subject to the attacts of a wood-destroying fungus (Poly- 

 porous riiuosns)^, which is more frequent on the older trees and detracts 

 considerably from the value of the Locust as a shade tree. 



The Catalpa (Catalpa spcciosa, Warder) is a rapid growing tree 

 which is widely planted in the- west. The tree grows well in a great 

 variety of soils, but does best on loamy clay. On the wh.ole it caimot be 

 recommended for an ornamental tree because the older trees become very 

 unsymmetrical unless given a great deal of light on all sides. Attention 



iVon Schrenk, II.: A disoaso of tlip Rlack r,ociis( (Rtihinia psruilariKin) . 12 Rop. 

 Missouri r.ot. Onidcn, 190]. 



