NEIGHBORING IMPROVEMENTS. 69 



many of them have not a cheerful expression in winter. The wil- 

 lows generally have thin leaves, which rot where they fall, and 

 therefore make the walks filthy under them in autumn. The pop- 

 lars all have blossoms, or cottony seeds, that are annoying. 

 Among the foreign maples, the Norway and the sycamore maples 

 are well adapted to . street planting, but not superior to the sugar 

 maple. If we were to name six species of trees to choose from for 

 the street, they would be the American weeping elm, the Scotch or 

 Wych elm, the horse-chestnut, the sugar, Norway, or sycamore ma- 

 ples, the weeping white birch, and, in light, warm soils, the white 

 pine. 



Charming effects may be produced by planting such trees as 

 the weeping birch at long intervals, to break the monotony of 

 heavier formed trees by the delicate sprightliness of their foliage in 

 summer, and their brilliant white-barked spray when the trees are 

 leafless. We know no reason why several varieties of the birch 

 would not make admirable avenues for streets which are too nar- 

 row for elms, and in which maples and chestnuts make too deep a 

 shade. 



In conclusion, we will venture to suggest an innovation for 

 town streets which are occupied for residences alone, and upon 

 which there is little travel in vehicles. The roadway on such 

 streets is often needlessly wide, and trees planted on the sidewalk 

 on both sides of the road, expand their tops so as to obstruct a 

 view of the street, and so close to the house that their beaut}^ can- 

 not be seen. It is recommended that such streets have but one 

 row of trees, and that in the middle of the road, where a strip of 

 grass, six feet wide or more, would give them a pleasing setting. 

 As this width of grass cannot be spared from many town side- 

 walks, but can be from the roadways, the plan may occasionally be 

 used to advantage. 



