I12 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 
The American Elm has been the favorite shade tree since 
the early settlement of the country. It was under the spread- 
ing branches of an elm in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that 
Washington first took command of the American army, and 
William Penn made his famous treaty with the Indians in 
the shade of an enormous elm which remained standing in 
the suburbs of Philadelphia until 1810. In the newer states 
of the Northwest this tree is equally popular. The easy 
curve of the larger limbs and the drooping branchlets give 
an outline that is distinctive and very graceful. It is some- 
LEAVES OF TREES 
a, Elm; 6, Soft Maple; c, Linden; d, Hackberry. 
what slow in its growth, but it will outlive several genera- 
tions of box elders and cottonwoods. 
The Soft Maple or silver maple is a handsome tree and a 
rapid grower, and is a favorite for any kind of place. It 
attains a height of 90 to 100 feet. The head is well formed 
and syrnmetrical, the foliage is light-green above and silvery 
beneath. It does not like a very dry climate and will not 
thrive farther west than the eastern part of the Dakotas. 
The Linden or Basswood has a fine form and large, clean- 
looking leaves which make it a handsome and high grade 
