64 SHADE TREES. 



OAK. 



It is decidedly unfortunate that the many oaks found in 

 this country have not furnished more street trees. As a 

 family they are undoubtedly the best shade trees that we 

 have, for, with few exceptions, they are beautiful, long lived, 

 and little subject to insects or disease. When properly 

 planted and taken care of the growth of many of them is not 

 slow. The following species are recommended. Red oak 

 (Quercus rubra, L.), one of our grandest forest trees, is suit- 

 able for broad avenues. It is satisfied with comparatively 

 poor soil, develops a straight, sturdy trunk surmounted by 

 a broad symmetrical crown, not too dense, and its foliage 

 turns a brilliant color in autumn. It is the most rapid grow- 

 ing of the oaks. Scarlet oak (Q. coccinea, Muench.) is much 

 like red oak, but smaller in size, and does well on even poorer 

 soil. Its leaves also are brilliantly colored in the fall, and 

 quite persistent. Pin oak (Q. palustris, Muench.) grows 

 taller and more slender than most other oaks and has an 

 unusually straight stem. It is thoroughly at home on moist 

 ground, but does not do well where it is dry. The leaves 

 are less brilliantly colored than those of red and scarlet 

 oaks and are apt to persist through the winter. Several fine 

 avenues of this tree may be seen in Washington, D. C., and 

 on Long Island. The white oaks, including bur oak, swamp 

 white oak, chestnut oak and the English oak, are less valu- 

 able for street planting than for lawns. All are compara- 

 tively short but sturdy and with broad crowns. They are 

 the longest lived of all our deciduous trees, and, contrary to 

 the general impression, not at all slow growing when suitably 

 located. 



SYCAMORE. 



A tree (Platanus occidentalis, L.) which normally, and 

 under favorable conditions, grows to an enormous size, but is 

 capable of being pruned and trained to meet the conditions 

 imposed by streets of moderate width. It prefers a rich, 



