SOME OTHER TREES 



it, and show with pride their trifling imported 

 specimens. We cannot exterminate the trees, 

 and there will be plenty for posts, too ; but 

 let us realize its sweetness and elegance, as 

 well as the durability of its structure. 



There are fashions in trees, if you please, 

 and the nurserymen set them. Suddenly they 

 discover the merits of some long- forgotten tree^ 

 and it jumps into prominence. Thus, only a 

 few years ago, the pin -oak came into vogue, 

 to the lasting benefit of some parks, avenues 

 and home grounds. Then followed the syca- 

 more, but it had to be the European variety, 

 for our own native "plane tree," or "button- 

 ball," is too plentiful and easy to sing much of 

 a tree -seller's song about. This Oriental plane 

 is a fine tree, however, and the avenue in 

 Fairmount Park that one may see from trains 

 passing over the Schuylkill river is admirable. 

 The bark is mottled in green, and especially 

 bright when wet with rain. As the species is 

 free from the attacks of a nasty European 

 "bug," or fungus, which is bothering the 

 American plane, it is much safer to handle, 

 commercially. 



213 i 



