12 The Rural Library. 



for city or village streets. They are also attractive and useful about 

 the borders of groves. The white ash is best, with black ash prob- 

 ably second. The European ashes are seldom planted for shade or 

 street purposes. 



Bald or deciduous cypress {Taxodium), while more particularly a 

 southern tree, will do well in many parts of the north, even as far 

 north as New York city. Being semi-aquatic, it delights in a moist 

 soil, although it often thrives upon dryish uplands. It is not valua- 

 ble tor street planting, but for private grounds or parks it is useful. 

 It is a stately tree of beautiful habit, with small, feathery, light green 

 foji^fge. 



K Beeches (Fagus) are noted for their rich, glossy foUage and ele- 

 gant habit, and are among our most magnificent trees. They are very 

 difficult to transplant except when quite srnall, hence are not used to 

 any great extent for street planting The American beech ( Fagus 



ferruginea) and the European beech {F. syh>atka) are large trees, 

 often attaining a hight of 60 to 80 feet. The European beech does 

 not thrive all over the United States as well as the American beech, 

 especially in the interior states. The cut-leaved, purple and weeping 

 beeches are all varieties of the European, and are very ornamental as 

 single specimens on the lawn. Beeches prefer a light, dry soil. Nur- 

 sery-grown trees should be secured, if possible. For single shade 

 tree^in a large lawn or field, the beech is very attractive. 



|/ Birches {Betula) are not as well adapted for street or shade plant- 

 ing as for ornament. They are too upright and slender ia habit of 

 growth, and most varieties have small, fine leaves. B. Bhojpattra^ 

 (Indian paper birch) is best adapted for shade purposes, having large 

 leaves and being a tree of good size. The native black birch casts a 

 good shade, as do also the larger-growing species, yellow birch and 

 cherry birch. The paper birch ( B. papyrifera ) is valuable as a lawn 

 shade tree in the north. The birches grow best in a light, sandy 

 loam. 



Blue gum {Euca/yphis giobulus)is useful in mild climates for tropi- 

 cal effects in landscape gardening, also for shade. Its wood is valu- 

 able for ship building and its leaves for medicinal purposes. It has 

 large leaves six to twelve inches long and of a distinct glaucous hue, 

 unlike any other plant similarly employed. In its native country. 



