20 Tlie Rural Library. 



{M. rubra) is a hardy and most robust tree of medium size in the 

 north, but reaching a hight of seventy feet in the south. It should be 

 better known as a shade and street tree. 



Nettle tree {Celtis occidentalis') is a native tree of moderate size 

 and fine, spreading habit, with the look of an elm. It has numerous 

 slender branches and thick, rough bark. The leaves are about the 

 same size as those of the apple, but more pointed, and of a bright 

 shiny green. It does well in any good soil, and should be better 

 known, both on the street and lawn. 



Nut trees are desirable for street planting, but when the nuts begin 

 to ripen boys are continually climbing the trees or throwing sticks 

 and stones to knock them off, and the trees are soon injured, broken 

 and otherwise disfigured. On the lawn they are usually dirty trees, 

 but they give good shade and are handsome specimens. The hick- 

 ories (^Carya) are slow-growing trees of handsome, upright habit. 

 The common white or shag-bark hickory is perhaps the best for shade, 

 although the bitter-nut is a unique, feathery tree, and worthy of ex- 

 tensive planting. Hickories usually transplant with difficulty, unless 

 they are nursery-grown or have had the tap-root cut a year or two 

 before removal. The pecan ( C. olivaformis) is not hardy in the 

 north. The walnut is the most valuable of all our native trees for 

 timber. The black walnut {Juglans nigra) is easily grown, and if 

 carefully handled can be transplanted with safety. It is a noble 

 roadside tree. The butternut (/. cinerea) resembles the black wal- 

 nut in growth, but has smooth and less rugged branches and usually 

 a thicker top. It is also an ideal street tree. The English walnut, 

 (/ ''CfZ'Z ) is not hardy in the north. The chestnut ( Castanea Ameri- 

 cana) would be a valuable tree could the boys be kept from injuringit. 

 It grows rapidly and makes a handsome top, which is broad and dense. 

 The native chestnut is the best tree for street and shade planting, and 

 the nuts, while small, are better in quality than those of the European 

 species. Nut trees grow well in any fertile soil. Chestnuts do better 

 in a lighter soil than most of the others. 



<-<)aks (Quercus) are the grandest and sturdiest of all our trees. 

 They are branching and spreading in their habit of growth, and old 

 trees are very picturesque and bold. The leaves of many species 

 cling to the branches with great tenacity, and many remain on all win- 



