Dowell: Our Forest Trees 145 



posts to enclose the farm. When coninninications by wire are 

 desired telephone poles can be made from tamarack, cedar, and 

 the like. 



The best trees for shade are those that, have a thick broad 

 crown and dense foliage, which keeps the sun's rays from pene- 

 trating to the ground. Sometimes a shade tree is used as a nurse 

 tree in forest plantations, as is the case with the black cherry. 

 The basswood is a fine tree for planting along the road and about 

 the home on account of its dense foliage and large crown. The 

 tulip tree is an excellent tree for shade and ornament, and is espe- 

 cially suitable for these purposes where bituminous coal is used. 

 Many other trees are used for shade and ornamental purposes. 

 Some of these are the Norway spruce, black cherry, maples, bass- 

 wood, elm, box elder, beech, poplar, sassafras, white and red oak, 

 horsechestnut, hemlock, sweet gum, ash, and hickory. The Nor- 

 way spruce grows rapidly, thus its use for shade. The honey 

 locust makes an excellent street tree and its use for this purpose 

 in western towns is increasing. The luxuriant foliage and rapid 

 growth render the elm suitable for planting in parks and along 

 roadsides. As a lawn and street tree the box elder is a fine tree 

 because of its hardiness. Of all our native maples the sugar 

 maple is the best shade tree, although surpassed by the Norway 

 maple. 



For memorial purposes any tree is suitable that is sure to thrive 

 with natural conditions, live to great age. and have good form. 

 For these purposes the tulip tree, poplar, spruce, hemlock, maple, 

 oak, horsechestnut, ash, black walnut, Scotch pine, etc., are suit- 

 able. For Arbor Day planting the best trees are those that grow 

 rapidly and are suitable for growing on any land at all. A fine 

 tree for Arbor Day purposes is the tulip tree, because it proves 

 suitable wherever natural conditions are at all favorable, and 

 because of the rapid growth and magnificent form at maturity, 

 and the value of its wood. White elm grows on any soil and 

 can endure a great deal of heat and moisture. Others well suited 

 for Arbor Day are the Norway spruce, European larch, Scotch 



