SIKK1T AND HIGHWAY PLANTIM;. 45 



shining dark green color and showy clusters of flowers. The tree is 

 not very spreading by nature but produces a good head of foliage. It 

 is of fairly rapid growth, and of considerable interest, as it is a native. 



The litter from the foliage is not excessive, but the real difficulty 

 would lie in obtaining a sufficient stock, as it is both rare and expensive. 

 Time and demand, however, will probably change this latter feature. 



As to its use on the street, no results can be offered. Certainly it 

 would prove hardy enough, but possibly other characteristics not now 

 looked for would develop. It is, at any rate, a tree worthy of some 

 consideration. 



THE CRAPE MYRTLE. 



This species (Lagerstrcemia indica) is not in reality anything more 

 than a small tree, and owing to its slow growth it must be considered 

 chiefly as a large shrub. As it does excellently in the interior and makes 

 a fine showing there it is often found in the parking spaces. 



The bush has small refined evergreen foliage and bears large terminal 

 panicles of showy flowers which vary in color from white to pink to 

 dark pinkish crimson. 



It has been successfully trained in tree form, but this is tedious work 

 and hence expensive, so that it would probably be out of the question. 

 As it is, the tree is certainly useful for wide parkings between other 

 trees or for such streets where a dense shade is not desired. This shrub 

 is hardy, and is useful not only in the south but as far north as one 

 might think of using it in this State. 



LAGUNARIA. 



Lagunaria patersonii is an exotic tree bearing dark green leaves resem- 

 bling somewhat those of the camellia both in texture, shape and color. 

 The flowers, however, look more like the mallow blooms and unfortu- 

 nately are of a rather dull purplish pink, with very prominent and 

 ugly calyces, which are persistent to such a degree that they often 

 disfigure the entire tree. This tree also appears to catch and hold much 

 of the dust from the streets and roads, giving it a very untidy appear- 

 ance. In style of growth it is rather too columnar for every use, and 

 from its general characteristics it is rather more suitable for parks and 

 plantings in private yards than for street purposes. 



In the north it has an additional bad feature of shedding about one 

 half of its leaves during the winter. It is neither strictly deciduous 

 nor strictly evergreen. 



THE LAUREL. 



The laurel (Laurus pseudocerasus) is rarely found in the parkings, 

 and wisely, as the foliage is of a very dark green color and gives a heavy 

 shade. As far as appearance goes the tree has everything to recommend 

 it for use in parks, but not in the street parkings. 



