234 



The Hortmilturiat and Journal 



Pine to kill out entirely, though oecasionally, 

 like the European Larch, it may lose some 

 branches. 



The Red Cedar is one of the poorest trees 

 to sell in nursery, as it is usually so much 

 discolored on the south side as to make it 

 unsalable in the spring, although this dis- 

 coloration works no material damage to the 

 tree and does not remain long. 



For some reason or other, I know not why, 

 but the Hemlock is not a popular tree with 

 the people, yet I think it should be planted 

 far more largely than Balsam and some other 

 favorites. 



There have been in cultivation hereabout 

 for the past fifteen years, two or three kinds 

 of evergreens from the Rocky Mountains 

 which promise to be altogether reliable. 



Shade Trees. 



BY J. JAY SMITH, ESQ., PKESIDENT. 



[Head before the Germtiiitown Ilorticultnral Society.] 



THE question as to what are the three best 

 street trees, and as to trimming in cities 

 and towns, is as interesting as it is broad. It 

 is a curious fact that if we examine the writ- 

 ings of the greatest lovers of trees, we find 

 almost no allusion to the trimming process 

 except in forest culture, because probably they 

 do not approve of mutilating their pets. The 

 art, if there be any such, should consist in 

 trusting much to nature. Begin early with 

 the business, first having a decided design as 

 to what the tree shall become. Remove the 

 branches that are superfluous, or likely to be- 

 come so, while young, when no injury will 

 result. Take example from the fruit grower, 

 who forms his pear tree into a pyramidal or a 

 fan shape ; in short, who plans to have, and 

 does have, just what he desires. If he wishes 

 to spread the limbs on an espalier, he finds no 

 difiiculty whatever in doing so. We can treat 

 a street tree in the same manner, but we must 

 know what is required, and give constant at- 

 tention to the detail as the limbs progress. 

 This, and this only, will prevent the necessity 

 for mutilation when the branches have at- 

 tained too great height or are too numerous. 



Watch and learn the proceedings of an accom- 

 plished fruit raiser. Who will do this? it 

 may be asked. It is feared the numbers will 

 be few, but without care of this kind, the 

 rapid-growing specimens will often have to be 

 cut, most probably mangled, disfigured and 

 killed. This society would do a good service 

 by recommending a person with the requisite 

 knowledge, and the probability is, that our 

 fellow citizens would — some of them, at least 

 — employ him. In a few years his results 

 would be an example that would educate 

 others. Trees of quick growth in towns with 

 narrow streets require more or less trimming ; 

 it is in vain to disclaim against the " vandals " 

 of the saw and hatchet, till some degree of 

 education is instilled into the masses. It is 

 equally in vain to have handsome, quick-grow- 

 ing trees, such as most persons desire, without 

 some attention. We should rather condemn 

 the owner who neglects his trees, than cast as- 

 persions at the man, however ignorant, who 

 obeys orders, and in whose power it is not to 

 reduce an overgrown specimen without using 

 his rough tools. 



What are the three best trees to plant in 

 streets at the North, is a question attended 

 with some difficulty, because, notwithstanding 

 the use, the grandeur and the beauty of timber 

 trees, it is a fact that, compared with herba- 

 ceous vegetables, the number of species dis- 

 tributed over the world is comparatively small. 

 The greater part belong to warm climates, for 

 in the temperate zones, and in the regions of 

 warm countries rendered temperate by their 

 elevation, the number of genera of timber 

 trees, according to the best authorities, that 

 attain thirty feet in height, does not amount 

 to a hundred. There are not above a dozen 

 genera of trees, furnishing in all about 

 thirty species, which attain that height, indig- 

 enous to Great Britain. Other countries, 

 however, furnish other genera and species 

 from which to select. These we have in con- 

 siderable varieties. The choice is restricted 

 most painfully when we consider the circum- 

 stances we are reduced to in the selection. 

 We cannot properly have fruit or nut bearers, 

 nor even flowering trees, with safety to our 



