248 CALIFORNIA GARDEN FLOWERS 



has the larger leaves and is very satisfactory. Of the basswoods, Tilia 

 Americana is most used, although T. heterophylla is more ornamental, 

 having larger leaves, smoother, and with a silvery sheen underneath. 

 The lindens do well even in our hottest valleys and are, of course, 

 hardy enough for the mountains also. 



Maples. One of the best maples we have is the "big-leaved maple" 

 (Acer macrophyllum), often called California maple or Oregon maple. 

 This native maple grows along streams in the mountains and is a 

 highly desirable shade or street tree in loamy or sandy soil which is 

 not too dry. In cultivation it is remarkable for its rapid growth, clean 

 habits, hardiness and resistance to wind-breakage. The hard maple, 

 as well as most of the Eastern and European maples, do well in most 

 parts of California, some of them showing pleasing autumn colors. 



Magnolia. The magnolia grandiflora does very well in some shel- 

 tered localities, but needs a good depth of soil, which is often hard to 

 secure on high ground. It requires plenty of moisture in order to 

 insure fine blossoms. In such conditions it is one of the most magnifi- 

 cent trees known, its large, strong scented flowers appearing all the 

 year round in some places. 



Pecan. The pecan makes a good growth both on the coast and in 

 the lower lands of the interior valley. It grows 40 or 50 feet high in 

 the interior valleys, where it is admired as a roadside tree. 



Pepper. The beautiful and well-known pepper tree is still being 

 planted largely in spite of blame placed upon it for harboring insects 

 injurious to fruit trees; .also for constantly dropping leaves, blossoms 

 and berries, which are a source of annoyance if the trees are 

 planted where they overhang lawn, building or walk. But for a long, 

 shady lane, what can be more beautiful? Their drooping, swaying 

 branches, their fern-like leaves, their bright red berries, and dainty 

 flowers are hard to resist. The result is that if one excepts the blue 

 gum, no tree has been more extensively planted in California than the 

 pepper tree, and it will remain one of the most valuable introductions 

 from abroad, as it thrives everywhere and under the most unfavorable 

 circumstances. 



Pines. The several pines native to our mountains, may all be suc- 

 cessfully grown where there is good depth of soil, and all exotic pines, 

 so far as we know, are reasonably glad to get to California, but our 

 best pine is that native at Monterey, pinus^ insignis, which makes a 

 grand, tall and massive evergreen both in coast and interior valleys. 



Poplars. All the members of this large family seem to be at home 

 in California. The cottonwoods are wild along streams even in so- 

 called desert places. The Lombardy poplar lifts its high plumes along 

 miles of valley farms and highways, where it serves as a tall wind- 



