For ,1/ar, 1921 



581 



Some Neglected Native Trees 



HERBERT DURAND 



THERE are a number of native American trees which 

 ought to be more widely used, particularly in natur- 

 alistic plantings. During the past twenty years, 

 leading nurserymen have been giving greater attention 

 to some of the native trees, but they have neglected many 

 of the most useful and beautiful. Among those which 

 have either been entirely ignored, or are only offered by 

 a few growers, are the following: 



The Scarlet Maple (Acer rubniin) is speciallv meri- 

 torious. It is of sturdy habit and symmetrical propor- 

 tions, and while usually found growing naturally in 

 swampy ground, will thrive in any well drained locality. 

 This tree is conspicuously scarlet all the year. Its scarlet 

 flowers appear in early .Spring and are followed by scar- 

 let fruit. Its foliage in Autumn is brilliant scarlet and yel- 

 low, and even in Winter, the scarlet of its twigs, offers a 

 striking note in the landscape. It is particularly fine for 

 planting along the banks of streams and on the borders 

 of lakes and ponds. 



The Striped Maple (Acer pciuisyh-aniciini ) is usually 

 a tall shrub with a good habit of growth, though it 

 sometimes develops into a handsome small tree. The col- 

 oring of its abundant fruit in Autumn is very bright and 

 interesting. It does well in partial shade and is espe- 

 cially adapted for planting on sloping banks, wherever a 

 rapidly growing shrub or tree of moderate size is needed. 

 The Shad Bush {Amclanchicr canadensis) is thor- 

 oughly good in all its forms. Its masses of snowy 

 flowers in early Alay, at the time the shad are running. ' 

 give it its common name. The fruit (known as the Serv- 

 ice Berry) is good to eat and the foliage is handsome 

 during the entire growing season. The Shad Bush 

 varies widely in size and form — some varieties being low 

 shrubs, while others, when well grown, make sturdy sym- 

 metrical trees, in some cases as much as forty feet in 

 height. 



The Canoe Birch (Belula alba) does not develop its 

 pure white bark until the tree has reached a height of 12 

 or 15 ft,, but when this silvery bark comes it stays and, 

 together with the airy head, gives it an unusual beauty. 

 It is a long-lived tree. Other excellent native birches are 

 the Yellow Birch ( Betula liUea) a sturdy, broad headed 

 tree with lustrous golden bark; the Black Birch {Betula 

 ienta) with fragrant bark and clear, green foliage; the 

 Red Birch (Betula nigra) with richly colored bark, and 

 the Grav Birch (Betula popuHfolia), which has ash-gray 

 bark and grows in clumps of from three to ten stems, in 

 poor soil — all of these trees are of singular grace and 

 beautv, and are well adapted for use in landscape work. 



The Red Bud (Cercis canadensis) and the white and 

 pink Flowering Dogwoods (Cornus florida) are gen- 

 erally in cultivation, and are mentioned here because of 

 their unequaled fitness for planting among larger trees, 

 in open spaces or on the borders of woodlands. 



The Yellow Wood (Cladrastis lutea), while a southern 

 tree, is perfectly hardy in the latitude of New York, and 

 is one of the very best trees of medium size, combining 

 symmetrical growth, beautiful foliage and handsome 

 flowers. It is specially good used as a single, isolated 

 specimen. 



The .\merican Hawthorns (Crat(rous). of which Clray 

 lists 67 distinct varieties, are all beautiful in flower, fruit, 

 foliage and form. Only four or five native Thorns are 

 oft'ered by nurservmen— Corrfn/a. Coceineum. Crus-galli. 



.iJoIlis and Toinentosa; any of them, however, will prove 

 to be admirable trees, used either in masses or as speci- 

 mens. They will make impenetrable thickets when 

 needed and are much better for hedges than the English 

 Hawtliorn. Thorns under four or five feet in height 

 transplant readily and can be moved from their natural 

 hal)it;its in pastures and on hillsides with little difficulty. 



The American Wild Crab Apple (Pyriis coronarius) 

 is not only pretty nearly the best of all the flowering 

 apples, but has two distinctive characteristics which add 

 to its desirability. One is its flowering season, which is 

 from ten days to two weeks later than that of other ap- 

 ples and the other is the exquisite perfume of its flowers. 



The Sassafras (S. variifolium) is one of the most at- 

 tractive of our American trees, particularly in Autumn, 

 when its unique foliage is glorious with pinks, yellows, 

 greens, and opalescent tints. It is not a difficult tree to 

 transplant or to grow, and while found naturally in poor 

 soil, it responds quickly to good soil and good treatment, 

 soon deveiuping a pleasing form, with a well proportioned 

 head and a general neat appearance which makes it highly 

 desirable. 



It is a common mistake to treat native trees carelessly, 

 just because they are native. They are entitled to. and 

 should be given the same care and attention that is con- 

 sidered imperative when some high-priced novelty from 

 overseas is being planted. Success depends in great meas- 

 ure on giving them around the roots, plenty of rich, black 

 loam; of setting them firmly in the ground ; and mulching 

 for the first year, at any rate, with well-rotted barnyard 

 manure. They should also be kept thoroughlv w^atered, 

 particularly during the hot Summer weather. Thus treat- 

 ed, the newly set trees will be carried safely through the 

 first few years, after which the growth will be more rapid 

 and they will soon produce desirable and satisfactory 

 sijeciniens 



WORK FOR THE MONTH IN THE GARDEN 



( Continued from page 576) 



Larkspur. Cosmos, Anfirrliiiiuni, etc. Continue to plant 

 batches of Gladioli for succession, and the cannas and 

 dahlias. Some expert dahlia growers advise that the 

 planting of dahlias should be deferred until June, produc- 

 ing marvellous blooms as evidence of this course, but, no 

 doubt, locality plays an essential part in the question of 

 ]\lay or June planting. 



Sow the seeds of biennials, including Digitalis, fox- 

 gloves. Sweet \\'illiam, and Canterbury Bells for next 

 year's blooming; also the seeds of herbaceous plants that 

 will be large enough to transfer to the herbaceous border 

 in the Fall. 



The sweet peas should be well staked, or if wire net- 

 ting is used, they should be tied at frequent intervals. 

 Plants in the borders will also need support, and should 

 be neatly staked. .Slovenly staking detracts much from 

 the charm of the flower garden, so one must carefully 

 endeavor to make the stakes as inconspicuous to the eye 

 as possible. 



Cut back shrubs as they pass out of bloom. Finish up 

 any planting of evergreens that has to be done, and watch 

 that the newlv jilantcd shrubs and trees do not suft'cr 

 from drought. 



