1892.] ESSAYS. 115 



The town of Shrewsbury will ever revere the names of 

 Harlow and Hapgood, who, when in the prime of life, erected 

 their own monument by the planting of those rows of Sugar 

 Maples, that now attract the attention of every lover of nature. 

 "Yea, verily they cease from their labors but their works do 

 follow them." 



While our State has many towns whose shade trees have 

 made them famous and attractive, the work of street embellish- 

 ment in Washington City is not only of especial interest but 

 of great magnitude. During a period of ten years, over 20,000 

 shade trees were planted on the streets and avenues, and as 

 many more in the parks and reservations. What impresses 

 one most in their method of planting is the large variety of 

 trees that have been utilized. The climate in that locality 

 allows the utilization of many trees that are not indigenous 

 to this New England climate. Certain avenues ai-e planted 

 exclusively with one variety of trees and the effect is most 

 pleasing. The perfectly formed and evenly rounded head of 

 the Sugar or Norway Maples on certain avenues, while the 

 more spreading Silver Maple type characterizes another. The 

 American Linden furnished another type of symmetrical and 

 finely formed trees. The Tulip or White wood is clean and 

 shapely, while the Gingko or Maiden Hair, furnishes a pecu- 

 liarly striking foliage that attracts much attention. The Elms 

 are used in some cases where space will allow. The Carolina 

 Poplar and Negundo Maples were planted largely at first, 

 but proved very unsatisfactory after a few years ; the Negundo 

 becoming badly infested with insects, and the Poplar becoming 

 sadly disfigured by breakage. 



Our neighboring city of Boston has just completed a broad 

 avenue several miles in length from the city proper to " Chest- 

 nut Hill Reservoir," in Brookline, that is unequalled by 

 any drive in this section of the country. Its distinctive 

 features are its generous width, 200 feet most of the distance, 

 the location of the double tracks of the Electric railroad system 

 in the centre of the avenue, and on either side of these tracks 

 rows of shade trees are planted, while the surface of the ground 

 is well turfed with grass. An equestrian drive comes next 



