56 



severe windstorms. It is free from any 

 serious fungus disease but its low head 

 makes it suitable for planting as a 

 street tree only in suburban areas along 

 wide streets. The falling of the mature 

 pods may be objectionable in some 

 locations. Its attractive flowers and 

 bark are ornamental on the home 

 grounds, and its abundant foliage pro- 

 vides adequate but open shade. 



EUROPEAN BEECH, an introduced 

 species, is 40 to 65 feet high at ma- 

 turity. It has a compact, oval crown 

 and glossy, dark-green foilage. It 

 prefers fertile, well-drained soil; it 

 cannot stand soil compaction. The sev- 

 eral good horticultural varieties that 

 are available offer variation in growth 

 habit, form, and color of foliage. 



THE THORNLESS COMMON HONEY- 

 LOCUST has gained favor for use on 

 streets and lawns. Its small leaflets 

 cast a light shade that does not prevent 

 good growth of grass beneath it. It 

 is high-rectangular or round-topped. 

 This tree is long-lived and a rapid 

 grower. The large, purplish-black fruit 

 pods of the thornless common honey- 

 locust may be interesting or just a 

 nuisance when they fall to the ground. 



THE COMMON HACKBERRY is a slow- 

 growing tree of widespreading form 

 that may reach 50 to 70 feet. Opinions 

 differ on its desirability, but it seems 

 to be gaining in popularity. Birds feed 

 on the fruit. The interesting bark is 

 formed into warts or narrow ridges. 

 The leaves are a light green, and the 

 foliage casts a moderately dense shade. 

 It is easily transplanted. 



In many places it is susceptible to 

 a disease that causes an excessive pro- 

 duction of small twigs, called brooms. 

 This does not seem to be especially 

 detrimental to the tree, however. Dur- 

 ing the growing season the brooms are 

 inconspicuous; in winter they give a 

 more massive effect to the tree. In 

 habit it is something like the American 

 elm, although not so graceful. It dis- 

 likes smoke and soot. 



Yearbook^ of Agriculture 1949 



TREES OF LIMITED USE include sev- 

 eral species that are good in many sit- 

 uations or for special purposes. 



The American mountain-ash is a 

 small to medium tree, with a some- 

 what open to round-topped crown. It 

 is short-lived, fairly slow in growth, 

 and subject to attack by several pests. 

 The white flowers in the spring and the 

 bright-red fruits, which remain over 

 winter and are eaten by birds, make 

 it an attractive tree for suitable yard 

 locations. In New England many beau- 

 tiful specimens brighten the landscape. 



The magnolias are not usually con- 

 sidered as shade trees, but the native 

 cucumbertree magnolia has the neces- 

 sary qualifications. It grows best in 

 well-drained soil. It is native in the 

 region from Pennsylvania southwest- 

 ward in the mountains and in Ohio, 

 Indiana, and Kentucky. The wide 

 pyramidal crown reaches 50 to 90 feet 

 in the forest. Its red fruits are con- 

 spicuous in the autumn. Its large 

 leaves turn yellow before they fall. The 

 sweetbay and the southern magnolia 

 are sometimes used for shade in the 

 southeastern part of the Northeast. 



The black tupelo is native in all 

 States in the region, except Minnesota, 

 Wisconsin, and Iowa, and the most 

 northern parts of New England, Michi- 

 gan, and Missouri. It grows 50 to 70 

 feet tall and develops a pyramidal 

 but irregular crown. The leaves, which 

 are scarlet in autumn, are oval, leath- 

 ery, and dark green. Black tupelo casts 

 a moderately light shade. Large trees 

 are difficult to transplant. The fruits 

 are eaten by birds. Squirrels often cut 

 off many young twigs in the spring. 

 The black tupelo grows best in rich, 

 moist soil. 



Amur corktree, introduced from 

 Asia, forms a low-branched, spreading, 

 rounded crown, which may reach 40 

 to 50 feet in height. The leaflets are 

 a shiny dark green above and light 

 green below. The foliage casts light 

 shade. It develops an attractive, corky 

 bark. The low-branching habit limits 

 its use on streets, but it is recommended 

 for parks and lawns. It is smoke-toler- 



