34 SHADE-TREES IN TOWNS AND CITIES 



noblest tree of its race, and is justly called the king ot the 

 forest. It is superior in vigor and longevity, and attains a 

 greater spread than the other oaks. As a street-tree, how- 

 ever, it has fewer points to recommend it than the other 

 members of the group that have been treated. It grdws 

 much more slowly than either the pin, the red, or the scarlet 

 oak. Its red and russet colored autumn leaves are very per- 

 sistent, often clinging to the tree the entire winter. This is 

 a feature which may be regarded with unfailing interest in 

 the forest, but in the city it makes the trees rather objec- 

 tionable because of the continued litter of the street. 



The white oak belongs to the group of oaks that ma- 

 ture their acorns in one season. Other things being 

 equal the oaks require more care in transplanting than the 

 maples. The wood is harder and the roots dry more rap- 

 idly. The first year after these trees are planted, their 

 growth is very slow. During the second and third years, 

 however, the trees make a remarkable growth and an 

 increase of a foot or more in height may be expected yearly. 

 When the oaks are set out the twigs must be cut back 

 almost to the main stem. By this means the draft on the 

 roots is reduced, it gives the tree a chance to reestablish 

 itself, and the top makes up the original loss in a very short 

 time. See Fig. 13. 



Other oaks that are sometimes planted on streets and high- 

 ways in the Northern States are swamp white oak {Quercus 

 bicolor W^illd.) and chestnut oak {Quercus prinus Linn.). 



THE LINDENS 



American Linden {Tilia americana Linn.). — This tree, 

 which is also known as basswood, commends itself as a 

 shade-tree in many ways. It is a vigorous grower. When 



