338 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



country roads, in villages and the suburbs of cities, where the streets are not 

 paved, more of the natural conditions are present, and dust is the only serious 

 enemy present. Thus a great variety of trees can be used in such places, and 

 better and more perfect specimens can be grown. On the lawn, in parks cr 

 private grounds, the chief natural condition which does not exist is the shade 

 and protection of other trees that is found in the forest. By planting in groups 

 this can be partly afforded, but most trees thrive by themselves after a year or 

 two of slight protection. A nursery-grown tree is hardier and will stand trans- 

 planting to a position by itself better than a tree taken from the shade of its 

 native forest. Never buy trees that are brought into the villages in wagon loads 

 from the woods and peddled about the streets ; they are usually poor investments. 



For shade purposes and nobleness of stature there is no tree in the north 

 which equals or excels the American elm. Its great height and spreading, 

 drooping branches, place it above all rivals, but the elm-tree borer has become 

 so serious in many sections in the east as to almost exterminate it and forbid 

 setting any more. The canker worm and several caterpillars have also preyed 

 on it, and it is such a high tree as to be out of reach of most spray pumps. The 

 elms of Northampton and of Old Hadley, Mass., are famous for their stateliness 

 and grandeur, and one who has seen them cannot but be impressed with their 

 beauty and desirability for a street or shade tree wherever they will grow. The 

 maple is a great favorite, and is a beautiful tree. It grows rapidly and symme- 

 trically, casts a good shade in summer, and is pleasant to look upon in winter. 

 Oaks are admired for their sturdiness, but are slower growing than the maples, 

 and do not form so neat and compact a head, and they do not transplant 

 easily. The locust presents a rough, crooked trunk and many dead branches, 

 but is valuable for its flowering qualities and quick growth. The linden and 

 tulip tree are of a similar character of foliage, are tall and upright, with a bare 

 trunk for some distance and a good, round, close-growing head. A few- 

 evergreens are always desirable about a place to break the monotony of trees of 

 a similar habit of growth and to present something green and snug in winter. 

 Norway spruces are good while young, but are apt to be ungainly as they grow 

 large. They should be kept well trimmed. Pines are effective, especially when 

 planted in a group or at some distance from the residence. It is always 

 desirable to plant a variety of trees, especially upon the home grounds. 



In laying out a place, trees should be planted in groops, clumps and masses 

 about the borders, with but few single specimens. A purple beech and other 

 colored or exotic trees look better alone than mixed with other trees. As a 

 rule, do not mix deciduous and evergreen trees promiscuously in the same 

 clump, but keep them separate. So, also, do not plant oaks and willows 

 together, for they are not only of widely dissimilar habits of growth, but the 

 rapid-growing willow would soon hide and possibly injure the slower growing 

 oak. Avoid so many trees that the place looks like a forest, but do not plant so 



