3o6 Trees for Shade and Ornament 



some extent and near houses, giving a light shade. It is adaptive 

 to light, deep, sandy soils, such as dunes, but also to more compact 

 soils, and is a very thrifty and rapid grower. 



P. Padus Linn. (282), English Bird Cherry. A small flat-headed 

 tree or shrub, otherwise similar to the foregoing; blooms earlier (May), 

 but has less pleasing foliage. 



P. Pennsylvanica Linn. (283), Pin Cherry or Bird Cherry, is an 

 interesting small native tree, often hardly more than a bush, distributed 

 over almost the whole northern part of the continent, springing up 

 freely after forest fires. Its small white flowers, lively green foliage, 

 but more particularly its cherry-red fruit, the size of a pin or pea, are 

 its attraction. It grows in any dry soil. 



P. Mahalcb Linn. (284), Mahaleb Cherry, a small slender tree 

 (15 to 20 feet) from the Caucasus and middle Europe, hardy to 

 Ottawa, is more ornamental than the Bird Cherry, by reason of its 

 apricot -like glossy foliage of pale green color, on slender but abun- 

 dant sprays, and with as fine flower and fruit as the foregoing, the 

 flowers being fragrant and in umbels (May, June). 



OAK 



Quercus. This genus, of not less than two hundred and seventy-five 

 species, over fifty of which are found in North America, represents 

 among the broad-leaf trees what the pine represents among the con- 

 ifers, in usefulness and in wide distribution, but it excels in number of 

 species and in ornamental value, ranging in size from majestic trees 

 to small shrubs, with a variety of foliage and of form hardly equaled 

 by any other single genus. The oaks are inhabitants of the northern 

 temperate zone, occurring, however, also in the tropics in high altitudes, 

 and are extremely adaptive to soils from the driest to the swamp. The 

 deciduous ones are mostly hardy in the north, the evergreen not north 

 of Washington. They are the embodiment of sturdiness and persist- 

 ency, holding on to life wherever there is a chance, with remarkable 

 recuperative power. They are light-needing, but will persist in the 

 shade for a long time. Although normally having a tap-root system, 

 they readily adapt themselves, permit any amount of pruning at top 

 and root, so that mere root stumps may be transplanted and grow into 

 trees. They grow at a more rapid rate than they are usually credited, 

 but, to be sure, the majestic, broad-crowned beauties are centenarians. 



