Field and Forest 



DEVOTED TO 



GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY. 



Vol. I.— august & SEPTEMBER, 1875.— Nos. 3 & 4. 



Exotic Trees in Washington. 



Althougli we believe, as a general rule, in employing our native trees 

 for purposes of ornament and shade, yet the intermixture of the foreign 

 element adds variety for public gratification as well as material for sci- 

 entific observation. The numerous parks and avenues of Washington 

 afford fine opportunity for a display of taste and culture in this direc- 

 tion. The opportunity has not been neglected in the past and there is 

 good prospect that it will receive increased attention in the future. A 

 brief investigation respecting the number and kinds of foreign trees of 

 which out door culture has been attempted develops the following in- 

 formation. 



Generally, the two points which govern those having charge of tree 

 planting are rapidity of growth and tenacity of life ; hence it is that 

 our streets and parks show so large a preponderance of the Silver Pop- 

 lar or Cottonwood, {Ahele), and the Silver-leaved Maple, {Acer dasy- 

 carpuin), the former an exotic, and the latter a native tree. In propor- 

 tion as different kinds of trees possess the two qualities named do we 

 find them relatively present in our public grounds, To succeed in rear- 

 jng many kinds of valuable trees requires an amount of care and protec- 

 tion, continued through a long period of years, which is not appreciated 

 by the public. 



Some very fine specimens of the European Linden ( Tilia Eiiropea) 

 may be observed in the Smithsonian grounds, and on several of the 

 streets and avenues. This species makes a regular compact head, and 

 as a shade tree is superior to our American Lin {^Tilia Americana). 

 Two species of European Maples have proved well ac^pted to our cli- 



