GETTING AC^AINTED WITH THE TREES 



It is the height and spread of the lirioden- 

 dron that keep its truly wonderful flowers out 

 of the public eye. If they were produced on 

 a small tree like the familiar dogwood, for 

 instance, so that they might be nearer to the 

 ground, they would receive more of the admi- 

 ration so fully their due. In Washington, 

 where, as I have said, trees are planted by 

 design and not at random, there are whole 

 avenues of liriodendrons, and it was my good 

 fortune one May to drive between these lines 

 of strong and shapely young trees just when 

 they were in full bloom. The appearance of 

 these beautiful cups, each one held upright, 

 not drooping, wds most striking and elegant. 

 Some time, other municipalities will learn wis- 

 dom from the example set in Washington, and 

 we may expect to see some variety in our 

 street trees, now monotonously confined for 

 the most part to the maples, poplars, and a 

 few good trees that would be more valued if 

 interspersed with other equally good trees of 

 diflferent character. The pin -oak, the elm, the 

 sweet -gum, or liquidambar, the ginkgo, and 

 a half-dozen or more beautiful and sturdy 



152 



