NOTES ON FOREST AND ORNAMENTAL TIJKES. 7 



make as street trees in country towns where the atmosphere is fairly 

 I'm 1 from pollution! Yet we have never heard of their ever having 

 been tried in such positions, and for all we know they might succeed in 

 smoky towns.'' 



In connection with the Sweet Gum., I can not forbear to mention 

 an 1 recommend for planting on the same class of soils the Black Gum 

 (Mi/ssa syhatira. Marsh.), a large tree with a round head, and remark- 

 ably shining dark green and dense foliage, which in the fall assumes a 

 color of deep crimson. Handsome specimens of this tree are found 

 scattered throughout the forests of East Texas. 



Tulip Tree (Linodendron tulipfera, L.). Several specimens of this 

 magnificent tree were planted in 1888 and made such a promising start 

 that about thirty trees were planted in an avenue in 1891. After three 

 or four years they commenced dying, and were soon lost. The Tulip 

 tree is not a native of Texas, but is one of the largest and one of the 

 most beautiful trees in the forests east of the Mississippi river. I have 

 seen vigorous Tulip trees of bearing age on the sandy soil of Watson's 

 Nursery, near Brenham, and also in East Texas, where^they were planted 

 on the same class of soil. 



Tree of Heaven (Ailantus glandulosa, Desf.). Many specimens of 

 this tree were planted in 1891, because it is reported to be a quick 

 growth and not fastidious as to soil and climate. We are, however, dis- 

 appointed, as the trees have already ceased their growth, although very 

 few of them exceed 25 feet in height. The lack of growth gives rise to 

 lack of foliage, hence their appearance is naked and unthrifty. 



Varnish Tree (Sterculia platanifolia, L.). This is a small to 

 -medium-sized tree, native of Japan and China, also called the Chinese 

 parasol tree. It produces a tall, cylindrical trunk, with smooth green 

 "bark and thick divergent branches, immense terminal panicles of yel- 

 lowish, small flowers, and dark green foliage of very large, five-lobed, 

 card ate leaves. Its general appearance gives a strange tropical aspect to 

 the landscape. This tree has been planted on the College grounds in 

 avenues and has proven fairly hardy during the fourteen years that it 

 has been under observation. The specimens will average about 14 feet 

 in height. 



Willow. Of this genius seven species have been tested; all of which 

 were short lived. The one proving the hardiest was the Weeping Willow 

 (Salix Babylonica, L.), which if planted on borders of lakes and 

 streams, will prove a very ornamental tree in our climate. 



HARDWOODS. 



The above species, it will be noted, are nearly all soft woods, and 

 liave with few exceptions proven themselves failures on our soils. Of 

 rho so-called hardwoods, Black Walnut, Pecan and oaks have been 

 planted. Several Black Wnlnrits were raised from seed planted in the 

 permanent place in 1889. Many of these are yet living, but in a state 

 of decay or very slow growth. 



Two very luxuriant specimens of Pecan, raised from seed, planted 

 in 1892 as above, exist on the campus, one being 33J feet high. Sev- 

 eral other Pecan trees were transplanted from nurseries, but did not 

 Tec over from the transplanting, as they were rather unthrifty specimens. 



