:-^.^^^^ 



TKEES FOE STKEETS. 



to in the description of his grounds in the January number. It is propagated from 

 seeds, but more generally by layers which require two years to root; or by grafting 

 or inarching on some plentiful sort. 



The obovata, or pifrjjitrra, another Chinese species, is necessarily classed among 

 shrubs, as it seldom attains over ten feet in height, and not often that. It bears its 

 flowers, which are purple on a light ground, before the leaves in the spring, and is at 

 that season highly attractive. It is easier propagated from buyers than the consjncua^ 

 and is therefore usually more plentiful and cheaper in the nurseries. 



The soulanr/eana, is a variety produced by crossing the two preceding. • It 

 resembles the conspkua, but differs in having the flowers tinged with purple. It is a 

 hardy, profuse blooming, beautiful small tree. Propagated generally by grafting or 

 inarching. 



The gracUls is a slender, erect growing shrub, resembling the purpurea^ clifFerino- 

 particularly in the branches being more erect and slender. 



The glauca, or swamp laurel, which abounds in New Jersey, and in low, swampy 

 grounds further south, i-s a very pretty small tree, with glaucous leaves and white, 

 sweet scented flowers. It does not succeed so well in dry exposed places as those 

 previously mentioned, but its great beauty entitles it to some extra care in the way of 

 soil, shade and shelter. 



There are many varieties whicli have sprung up accidentally from seeds, both of 

 the American and Chinese species, but they difier only in some minor points from 

 those described. 



TREES FOR STREETS, AND THEIR PROTECTION. 



BY WILLIAM BACON, EICHMOND, MASS. 



In your January number of the Horticulturist, you make some very appropriate 

 remarks on the proper varieties of trees for street culture. As this is a subject in 

 which every lover of rural improvement and fine scenery and pleasant thoroughfares 

 must feel an interest, I have concluded that a little more may be said upon it, without 

 loss of time or influence. 



It is now some yeai's since I commenced j^lanting trees by the way-side. In my 

 first eff'ort I was guided more by popular oi)inion than by what I now consider a cor- 

 rect taste. The maple was all the rage in th-ose days, as it is witb many now ; so in 

 the outset I went the whole figure for the maple, which, when it grows unrestrained, 

 is certainly a very beautiful tree. Yet it has one serious objection ; it early loses the 

 freshness of its verdure, and its leaves acquire a thick, dry, leathery, dead appearance. 

 Not so with the elm, whose verdure remains beautiful to the last, — not so with most 

 of the trees of our forests ; and if I were to plant over again, and plant merely for 

 shade and beauty, I should be sparing of maples. Indeed, if our soil would permit 



iety, I would never confine myself to any one, or even half a dozen species ; variety 



