(12) 



Unfortunately the distinction between these two 

 varieties or species is not apparent till they are too 

 large to transplant; hence we must rely on the integ- 

 rity of the nursery men who raise them from the seed. 

 They now have no excuse for deceiving us, as every 

 intelligent nursery man is supposed to be posted as to 

 the difference between the two kinds of the Catalpa. 



The Soft Maple is a rapid grower, a clean, elegant 

 tree, but is very brittle. The limbs are liable to split 

 from the body and break off. In their native forests 

 they grow close together, tall and slender, and protect 

 each other from the wind; the tops are smaller and 

 the limbs less liable to break. The bark is tender 

 when young, and requires careful protection. Much 

 fault has been found with this tree and it has serious 

 faults; yet, the fact that it will grow, and grow rapidly, 

 and speedily make shade and is a handsome tree with- 

 all, are qualities which will always keep it in the front 

 rank as a shade tree in this place. It is somewhat 

 subject to the inroads of the borers. - They have lately 

 been attacked by a barklouse — the Lecanium acericola 

 — which has destroyed some trees and injured others 

 in certain sections ot the city. It first made its ap- 

 pearance in 1874, but not much damage was done by 

 it last summer. It may pass away as other noxious 

 insects have done before. The Soft Maple prefers rich 

 bottom lands, but will grow almost anywhere. 



The Box Elder is a medium sized tree, having a 

 medium growth, and while young a tender bark, but if 

 protected does well and is quite hardy. Like its rela- 

 tive, the Soft Maple, it is sometimes injured by borers. 

 It bears cultivation well and is a handsome tree any- 

 where, but in the river bottoms where it luxuriates, it 

 is very beautiful, and makes a rapid growth. On 

 moist, rich prairie land but few trees grow' more rap- 

 idly or present a finer appearance. 



