SHADE TREES FOR ROADS AND STREETS IN FLORIDA. 



There are a number of qualities which may be considered al- 

 most absolutely essential in the makeup of a shade tree for roads 

 and streets. 



First, It should be what its name indicates, a shade tree; it 

 should have a moderately smooth, straight trunk, a spreading 

 head with a mass of clean, bright, healthy foliage which it re- 

 tains in good color throughout the whole, or nearly the whole 

 year. 



Second, It should be adapted to its environment. Such a 

 tree for Florida should flourish in our poor, sandy soil with a 

 small amount of care or fertilizer. It should be able to with- 

 stand dust, drought or excessive rain ; it should not be too tender 

 and it should stand up against high winds or hurricanes with a 

 minimum of damage. 



Third, It should be easy to propagate, though not to the 

 extent of sprouting too readily or propagating itself too freely 

 from seed along the roads or streets. 



Fourth, It should be, so far as our knowledge goes, free from 

 serious diseases or the attacks of very bad insects, though of 

 course these things are liable to be introduced at any time. 



Fifth, It should be free from vicious thorns. In addition to 

 these it would be well if it were long lived, if its leaves were not 

 too large and if its fruit did not greatly litter or cumber the way. 

 It is not at all likely that any tree will ever be found that will 

 have all or nearly all the good qualities mentioned above; the 

 only thing we can hope for is to find one or more that will have 

 the most of them. 



So far as the planting of ornamentals is concerned Florida is 

 a new country and we are yet in the experimental stage. Our 

 knowledge, gained in regions to the north of this, is of little value 

 to us here. We must plant tropical and semi-tropical stuff 

 here almost altogether, and only a few things have really been at 

 all thoroughly tried as shade trees here. 



First, some of the palms have been recommended and a few of 



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