252 Trees for Shade and Ornament 



highly interesting and ornamental, its large fronds of pinnate leaves giv- 

 ing it a strikingly graceful and tropical appearance, which is heightened 

 by the verj' large, singular bunches of flowers and fruit. In winter, 

 its stout, rusty brown young twigs and shoots give it an interest. Not 

 hardy in Ottawa. In form it is somewhat open, but when full grown 

 is of stately habit, and peculiarly fissured, somewhat smooth, gray 

 bark. It is an extremely rapid grower, and most adaptive to soil and 

 climate, but light-needing. It has the advantage of being absolutely 

 free from insects or other troubles, but has two objectionable features, 

 namely, the disagreeable smell of the flowers of the male tree, which 

 may be avoided by planting female trees (recognizable?); and the habit 

 of suckering and strong rooting at the surface (also more strongly devel- 

 oped in the male tree), which makes it undesirable near dwellings and 

 pavements. It is therefore to be used with discretion. For rapid, 

 tall shrub effect or top filling it may be used advantageously by cutting 

 back annually, as it is a most vigorous sprouter. 



Aralia. A. spinosa Linn. (100), Angelica Tree, Hercules Club, one of 

 some twenty-five or thirty species, is a shrub or dwarf tree (twelve to 

 sixteen feet), of southern native habitat, and not quite hardy in the North. 

 With its stem beset with sharp prickles, shedding both leaves and 

 branches in winter, and leaving a bare pole, it is a botanical curiosity, 

 but also very ornamental with its tufts of very large, twice- and thrice- 

 pinnate leaves at the tip of stem and branches, and with its wealth of 

 large clusters of fleecy, white to greenish-tinted flowers in summer, being 

 quite tropical in appearance. It is a rapid grower, hence, like the Ailan- 

 thus, giving quick effects as tall shrub and top filler. It is verj' shade- 

 enduring and adaptive to various soils, best in moist, even wet ones. It 

 suckers profusely and hence can be cut down for wintering, but this 

 habit, if not to be utilized, can easily be kept in check. It is liable to 

 attacks of scale. 



Most of the other species are tender herbs or shrubs, but Aralia 

 Chinensis Linn. {Fatsia Japonica, or Sieboldii or Dimor phanthus Mand- 

 schuricus), from Japan and China, a very elegant shrub, with finely- 

 cut, deep glossy foliage, is perfectly hardy as far north as Ottawa; 

 hence it should be used in preference to the native form. 



Caragana. C. arborescens Lam. (102), Siberian Pea Tree. This small 

 tree (fifteen to twenty feet) or large shrub, one of several interesting 



