36 LAWN AND SHADE TKEES. 



tiful in themselves, and especially valuable in all places of large 

 extent. 



The mountain ash will grow freely in any soil, but it will not 

 bear much cutting away of limbs or branches. 



OAK Quercus. The oak is the tree of song and tradition; 

 the poet, painter, historiographer, and tourist all lend their aid 

 to depict its beauty in association, in light and shade of land- 

 scape, together with its great value as a timber and food tree ; 

 and were we writing an essay upon the beauty of light and 

 shade in scenery, stateliness and grandeur of tree, etc., it should 

 receive from us unqualified praise. But as it is, we are only out- 

 lining brief descriptions of popular trees for planting on street 

 sides, and in public and private parks of the United States, and 

 the truth compels us to write, that however much grand old 

 oaks may be admired, their use, for ornamenting lawns, or for 

 producing cooling shades on roadsides or grandeur in parks, as 

 yet has been very limited, and they can not claim to be classed 

 as popular in comparison with the elm and maple. 



The difficulty of transplanting the oak after it has acquired a 

 suitable size for position on the roadside, etc., has undoubtedly 

 prevented its adoption in many places where the taste of the 

 planter would have otherwise chosen it ; and this very difficulty 

 has contributed to keep it out of most dealers' catalogues. 

 Those who desire to plant it, we advise to select the early 

 autumn, just as soon as the foliage is ripe, even before it falls, 

 as the best time for its removal. It has deep and strong tap- 

 roots, and they must, as far as possible, be obtained in its 

 removal ; and when transplanted, the ground should be at once 

 thoroughly saturated with water. 



With all its stateliness and grandeur; its boldness and freedom 

 of outline; its great variety and irreverence to the rules of 

 symmetry and regularity, making plantations of it when of age 

 so expressive and commanding, we have an impression that for 



