36 HAND-BOOE OF PBACTICAL 



lanceolate oval leaves, while the latter has very large, broad, 

 heart-^aped fbliage,*and is much the more desirable. Both are 

 good for roadside trees or broad avenues, and their use in filling 

 up low grounds or bordering streams of water is always 

 satisfaicdxjry. As a background tree, covering and screening 

 bams or other farm buildingis, the Balm of Gilead is very 

 effective. The Silver Poplar (Ahele) is a tree remarkable for its 

 silvery white underside of foliage. It was once pretty generally 

 planted in lawns and groups, but its disposition to sucker makes 

 it objectionable. As a tree to make conspicuous some particular 

 high point, or where possible, to form the foreground of a group 

 of dark firs, it is desirable and effective. *A11 the Poplars bear 

 the smoke and dust of cities with great indifference, and where 

 pavements will serve to keep down the suckers, they are desir- 

 able because of their extremely rapid growth, exceeding- perhaps 

 that of any other tree. 



Pepperidge. — Nyssa. — The Sour Gum or Pepperidge tree is 

 generally, when wild, found growing in moist or wet land, but it 

 will thrive in any good deep soil. The tree, from its dark green, 

 glossy foliage in summer and the brilliant fiery tinge which it 

 fcikcs on when ripening its leaves, is extremely valuable for 

 forming groups in the picturesque style. A single tree of it 

 even, standing at some distance from the house and where its 

 brilliant autumn tints can be readily seen, often forms for weeks 

 a feature of beauty surpassing that of any other on the placa 



Persimmon. — Diospyrus. — The Persimmon or Virginia Date 

 Plum, makes an open, irregular, half round-headed, rather erect 

 tree of pleasing character and of medium size, that fits it well for 

 grounds of limited extent It groups well with the English 

 Elm, the Bird Cherry and others, and when the value. of its fruit 

 is regarded, deserves a place in almost all. grounds. In the 

 southern sections of Illinois, Missouri, etc., there are varieties 

 that ripen their fruits long before frosts, but the wild trees of its 

 northern limits generally produce an austere fruit, quite 

 uneatable until after being mellowed by frost. It is a good tree 

 for planting in cemeteries, and for rocky positions where a light, 

 jviry character is desired to be retained. 



