TREE PLANTING ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. 9 



around them. On city blocks, where the houses are in solid rows, preference should 

 be given to the Norway Maple, a nursery tree which resembles the native Hard 

 Maple closely, although not so large. The Norway puts on its leaves earlier in 

 spring, and retains its verdure later in the fall. The varied and brilliant autumnal 

 colors displayed by the leaves of our native Hard Maple make this species desirable 

 for ornament as well as shade. No other tree combines so many shades of color in 

 the fall^ — scarlet, orange, yellow, and green. These different hues may be seen on 

 one tree, often on one branch, and sometimes on one leaf. 



The Tulip Tree will compare favorably with the Hard Maple in height. and 

 beauty. In favored situations it attains a height of 125 feet or more, with a diameter 

 of six to eight feet. It bears transplanting well, grows rapidly, is very hardy, and is 

 free from destructive insects. The constant, tremulous motion of its broad leaves 

 gives it a lively, attractive appearance. The limbs of the mature trees are more or 

 less curved, producing a beautiful effect, which is heightened by the straight lines of 

 the tall mast-like trunks. In the latter part of May it decks itself with terminal 

 flowers of a dark, rich yellow, streaked with green and orange. The Tulip Tree 

 cannot be transplanted successfully except when it is of a small size. 



The Basswood, or American Linden, commends itself to the lover of trees by its 

 ample shade, fragrant flowers and bright green foliage, which in spring contrasts well 

 with its dark colored branches. In the fall its leaves assume a rusty hue that 

 detracts somewhat from its appearance then, especially as most of the other trees 

 are displaying their autumnal coloring at that time. In the excurrent character of 

 the trunk and arrangement of its branches the Linden displays a graceful habit after 

 the leaves have fallen, making it an attractive and desirable tree in winter. The 

 curious, ribbon-like bract to which the pea-shaped seeds are attached makes it 

 in early summer an interesting study to the passer-by. The Linden is extensively 

 planted as a shade tree in Holland and some other European countries. In Berlin 

 one of the principal avenues, Unter den Linden, takes its name from the trees that 

 shade its walks and driveways. Botanists are apt to regard this tree with a peculiar 

 interest, for the father of Linnaeus, the Swedish naturalist, took his family name 

 from a large, beautiful Linden, or Linn, that stood near his home.* 



The Horse Chestnut is the earliest of our trees. Before the buds have opened on 

 many of the others, and while the willows are showing only a "green mist" the Horse 

 Chestnut unfolds its cunningly packed leaflets to the sun, a welcome sight to those 

 who are waiting and watching for spring. Its large leaves afford a shade more 



*At that time many of the Swedes had Christian names only, and when they wanted a family name 

 it was customary to adopt that of some natural object in the vicinity — Berg (hill), Strom (stream), etc. 



