STREET AND HIGHWAY PLANTING. 51 



THE BANANA. 



Various species of banana (Musa) are found through the south, but 

 rarely on the parking. Owing to the fragility of the leaves they should 

 not be used except in places free from winds. Even then it would be 

 questionable if any reasonable decorative value would excuse their 

 use. At any rate, shade would be secondary in importance. 



THE OLEANDER. 



The oleander (Nerium oleander) in all of its many horticultural 

 varieties is often found upon the parking. Strange to say, in no case 

 noted had there been any effort to keep the stem to a single leader. 

 With what result? Everywhere, except where it was planted in the 

 shrubbery, there was a large straggling bush often covering the side- 

 walk and at such a height that it would strike all passersby. 



Here, again, is a case where careful nursery practice is of prime 

 importance should this tree be used at all, and it is quite possible to 

 conceive of its use on narrow streets, with wide parkings where shade 

 is a secondary matter. It would be well in such plantings to choose 

 only one or two varieties, as too great a contrast of colors gives a 

 messy appearance. 



This has been used with considerable success as a shrub, to alternate 

 with the Canary Island date palm. Since both of these species need 

 wide parkings, the oleander can be allowed to grow in its bushy form 

 without disturbing pedestrians. 



THE OLIVE. 



The olive (Olea europea) as it is now found in the parkings is in 

 most cases a remnant of some old orchard. It is planted by choice, 

 however, in some instances. This practice is one which can hardly be 

 recommended. 



If the tree be considered as a unit it has many desirable features. 

 The style of growth is distinctive, especially the gnarled buttress; 

 and the color of the foliage also adds a pleasing note of contrast. 



The shape is one which makes it practically impossible to head it 

 up to such a point that it will give any shade. This same style of 

 growth necessitates a large parking space. But more important than 

 either of these objections is the fact that the tree is a favorite host 

 plant of the black and other scales. This fact would make it undesir- 

 able in all citrus growing districts, as the expense of spraying or 

 fumigating shade trees is an expense which can not be termed as 

 strictly necessary. 



THE PARKINSONIA. 



This tree (Parkinsonia aculeata) is in reality a small tree or large 

 shrub, and so far as noted did not occur on the parkings. The 

 leaves are very delicately compounded with very small leaflets. The 



