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TEEES FOB STREETS. 



■would l»e wliat I should seek, and contrast what I should most particularly study. If 

 1 ijave pivforence to any one tree, it would be the elm — at home in almost every 

 variety of soil, especially moist soils. Beside other trees it always gives an agreeable 

 cnntrast, and impresses one with the dignity to which the trees of the forest may 

 attain. 



I have planted out the oak, and have no reason to complain of the tardiness of its 

 growth. Its majesty by the side of the ever graceful elm always j)resents an agree- 

 able feature ; and while the former is early in putting forth its leaf, the latter is tardy 

 in heeding the call of spring. So in autumn ; when one has cast its leaves to the 

 freshening blast, the oak retains its foliage, and dressing in new colors every day as 

 the season of the sear and many-colored leaf passes on, it smiles at its own decay, and 

 lays the dress of summer in gorgeous array upon the earth. I would by all means 

 have the oak occasionally scattered by the way-side, as one of its choicest ornaments. 



The American chestnut is a tree whose merits have never been fully appreciated. 

 As valuable as it may be to split into rails, burn for charcoal, or apply to any other 

 economic purpose connected with the dollar, it nevertheless has strong claims as an 

 ornamental tree. It is of rapid growth and beautiful form. There is much of the 

 beauty and strength of manliness in its fine and wide spreading branches. Its foliage 

 comes out late, and like that of the oak, remains late. Its beautiful white blossoms, 

 which come out long after the blossoming season of other trees, contrasting with the 

 rich, deep greenness of its foliage, make it conspicuous among other trees of the wood, 

 and its curious burrs add to the loveliness of its autumnal richness. This tree retains 

 its foliage in freshness often until the most of the trees of the forest have cast off their 

 drapery. In the variety which should always be introduced in street planting, it 

 should always have a prominent position. 



The hickory is a tree of unquestionable beauty. Its fine head, rich verdure, firm 

 trunk, which in youth exhibits the maturity of age, are all commendations in its favor.; 

 but it is a tree of slow growth, and in no wise adajjted to every soil, like some trees — 

 qualities which must prevent its general cultivation. Yet, in a favorable soil, it woidd 

 with me be a favorite tree, thrown into some position where its slow growth would 

 give it loveliness. I have seen way-side trees of the hickory which were amply large 

 enough, and that possessed enough of beauty to make them fascinating. 



In fact, we know of no tree of our forests that, left to the free growth of nature, 

 would not make a respectable growth by the way-side ; and if the planters of trees, 

 instead of following the old stereotyped practice of setting out all maples, all elms, or 

 all locusts, would introduce such varieties as soil will admit to grow freely, and cir- 

 cumstances will favor their obtaining, so that no two trees of the same variety shall 

 stand together, but those of diff'erent foliage and habits become neighbors ; there 

 would, we are sure, be greater beauty in the graceful rows of street trees, coming for- 

 ward at the bidding of nature, than we can at present anticipate. The eye, as we 

 passed along, would continually be feasted with new objects, often so opposite in their 

 characters as to savor the visions of romance, and lead us to suppose Ave were really 

 passing through fairy -land — just such a land as every one should be ambitious to 



