STREET PLANTING 89 



be made with regard to the white-beam tree, of which the handsomest and 

 most vigorous form is Pyrus Aria var. majestica. There are also the 

 nearly allied P. pinnatifida and P. decurrens. Pyrus spectabilis is 

 another beautiful flowering tree that rarely reaches 30 ft. in height, 

 and would be very suitable to experiment with in quiet streets of 

 residential suburbs. The same may be said of Prunus Avium flore 

 plena, a quick-growing tree in a young state, easily kept to the desired 

 pyramidal shape. The double-flowered bird cherry is a very handsome 

 small tree worth trying. The double-flowered varieties of these and 

 other trees are preferable, because the blossom lasts longer and gives a 

 finer display, and the tree is relieved of the strain of fruit-bearing. 



Handsome Foliaged Trees. Ailanthus glandulosa is now being 

 extensively planted as a street tree, and few more ornamental foliage 

 trees are available. It grows quite well in the south-western suburbs of 

 London, but needs careful attention when young to get it to develop 

 a good leading shoot. Left to itself, it is very apt to branch low and 

 form a bushy head. Owing to the objectionable odour of the male 

 flowers, female trees only should be planted. As the tree is easily 

 raised from root suckers, or cuttings made of the roots, there need be 

 no difficulty in getting up a stock of the desired sex, once that is known. 



The black walnut is one of the handsomest of trees, with large pinnate 

 leaves, and in the young state has a slender pyramidal form. Where 

 there is abundant room it may be recommended, as it thrives very well 

 in the western suburbs, but the tree has two defects. It does not 

 transplant so well as most of the trees here mentioned, nor is it adapted 

 for severe pruning. 



The glorious hues of autumn foliage ought more often to be seen in 

 streets. The plane simply turns a grey-brown, the lime naturally turns 

 yellow, but this is often obscured by a layer of filth. The horse- 

 chestnut and its varieties turn a fine yellow. Two varieties of Norway 

 maple should be tried, vars. Reitenbachii and Schwedleri ; the leaves of 

 the former turn a rich red in autumn, and the tree itself is easily grown 

 and kept within bounds ; the leaves of Schwedler's maple are rich red 

 when young, and give very pleasing effects. The common Norway maple 

 turns yellow in autumn. 



The beautiful oak called Quercus cocdnea splendens would probably 

 only thrive in favoured places, where the soil and air a^e good, and a 

 grassy border runs between the footpath and the carriage road ; but an 

 avenue of this tree, with its leaves scarlet and crimson from October to 

 December, would add much to the fame of any town lucky enough 

 to possess it. In Washington, U.S.A. (where some of the most interesting 

 street planting in the world has been done), there is an avenue of the 

 maidenhair-tree one of the most striking objects of that city. This tree, 



