22 SHADE-TREES IN TOWNS AND CITIES 



germinates the following spring. The seeds of the red and 

 the white maples, however, ripen at the end of a few weeks 

 after the trees flower, fall to the ground and germinate 

 at once. The leaves of the silver maple are deeply divi- 

 ded, and are a bright pale green above and silvery white 

 beneath. In a light breeze the under sides of the leaves are 

 exposed, giving the entire tree a silvery appearance. 



The white maple can be readily recognized by its light 

 brown bark, which, from the old trunks, peels off in long 

 pieces, free at either end and attached to the middle. The 

 wood is soft and perishable. The breaking of the limbs in 

 storms causes the rough ends that remain to dry, and these 

 decay and carry disease to the heart of the main limbs. In 

 a short time the entire tree suffers and looks unsightly. 



Numerous insect pests prey upon this species, among 

 which are the cottony maple scale, the tussock moth, the 

 bag worm, the leopard moth and other borers. The tree 

 requires the greatest care. It gives much trouble by the 

 breaking of its limbs, and in the end it does not make a 

 beautiful shade-tree. Many persons a generation ago made 

 the mistake of planting a great number of these trees on the 

 streets. The rapidity of growth was the only point consid- 

 ered, and now, while the hard maples set out at the same 

 time are healthy and thriving, the white ones are in a con- 

 dition of decay. When selecting a tree for street-planting 

 the white maple should be avoided. 



THE POPLARS 



Carolina Poplar {Populus deltoides Marsh.). Planted 

 within recent years more extensively than the white maple, 

 and possessing even greater disadvantages as a shade-tree, is 

 the Carolina poplar, or cottonwood. As in the case of the 



