STREET AND HIGHWAY PLANTING. 25 



the goal of all planting, and although a few unfortunate creatures still 

 yearn to watch the unfolding of bud and leaf in that fashion peculiar 

 to the deciduous trees, the vast majority of citizens, plant their rows 

 of evergreens, and in spite of the dense shade of certain winter days, 

 persist in their protest that evergreens only are desirable. But in the 

 other parts of the State the maple finds a welcome place, and many 

 watch for the yellow bloom of the Norway and fr g-leaf maples, the red 

 blooms of the silver maple, and the gay autumn foliage, with the same 

 delight that is felt in those sections where the trees are native or freely 

 planted. 



THE AILANTHUS. 



The Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus glandulosa Desf.) is a tree often 

 found in the "downtown" districts where there is much dust and 

 smoke, because it is one of the trees which will stand considerable dirt 

 in the atmosphere. Under these circumstances it has little chance to 

 root sucker, which is its most undesirable feature, although such suckers 

 often appear in cellars and alleyways where there is apparently little 

 chance for any favorable growth. 



The tree attains considerable size and bears large compound leaves 

 which often color highly in the autumn. The flowers are borne in large 

 terminal panicles. The male, or staminate flowers, which are borne on 

 separate trees from the female or pistillate flowers, have a rather sick- 

 ening odor, to which various discomforts are popularly attributed. The 

 samaras of the pistillate tree are often a vivid red in the autumn and 

 cf no small beauty, though after the leaves have fallen the persistent 

 seeds are not attractive. 



THE CHINA WOOD-OIL NUT. 



This tree (Aleurites) has been planted in a small way near the 

 University Citrus Experiment Station at Riverside and in other isolated 

 locations about the State. There the trees have been kept low and do 

 not show a form suitable for street use. At first sight they suggest the 

 mulberry, with large cordate leaves of downy texture. The nuts are 

 borne in large green fruits, and have caused several severe cases of 

 poisoning among too curious small boys.* The tree on the whole does 

 not appear promising for our work. 



THE ARAUCARIAS. 



Araucaria bidwellii, A. imbricata, and A. excelsa are all common 

 throughout the southern part of California. There are a notable num- 

 ber of fine Araucaria excelsa (Norfolk Island pine) in Santa Barbara, 

 and farther south this species gives place to Bidwell's form. There 

 are many excellent specimens of this far into the inland country. In 

 most places there are but few^of A. imbricata, commonly known as the 



* According- to information received at the station. 



