and for a two-week period, almost clothe the tree in 
white. Aside from the other advantages, this habit of 
producing flowers when the Middle West is beginning to 
feel the effects of dry weather is a strong recommenda- 
tion for their wide use. Pagoda Trees are not attacked 
by many insects, and they have no serious diseases. They 
may prove somewhat hard to establish, but they should 
grow well where ever the better shade trees can be ex- 
pected to grow. 
PERSIMMON 
The Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) has come to be 
considered an invader of abandoned fields. Most people 
who encounter it in the field think of it as hardly more 
than a shrub. Actually, the tree grows very large and 
quite rapidly. If allowed to grow undisturbed on the 
lawn, it will reach a height of fifty feet, a branch 
spread of forty feet, and trunk diameter exceeding two 
feet. As a lawn tree, the most serious objection might 
be the tendency of the smaller branches to break off when 
they die. The fruit, of course, is edible and eaten by many 
animals and birds. The tree produces a great many flowers 
in May and June, but these are inconspicuous and well- 
hidden by foliage. If allowed to develop normally, the Per- 
simmon would be an excellent lawn tree and any objectionable 
fruits would be harvested by small boys and squirrels. 
PLUMS AND CHERRIES 
This is an extremely large family containing many 
trees of great ornamental interest, and just as many pro 
ommerc 
the 
„ --- -_ ^ . ^. The largest tree in the 
family, and about the only one suitable for street use is 
the Black Cherry (Prunus serotina). This would be an ex- 
cellent lawn tree, attractive to birds and with very fiJ^^ 
twigs approaching the Birches in their graceful slender- 
All of the Japanese Flowering Cherries belong to 
this group, but very few of them are satisfactory in ^ ^ 
Middle West. One small tree of interest, because it un- 
folds its leaves four weeks ahead of other trees, is t 
Harbinger Cherry, {Prunus Padus commufata); this pl^^^' 
along with most of the rest of the family, is best gro 
in the shrub border. Two plums that would make small 
lawn specimens are native to Middle West fence rows. 
is the Hortulan Plum (Prunus hortulana') , and the other, 
one 
22 
