44 SHADE-TREES IN TOWNS AND CITIES 



While the horse-chestnut possesses many features of 

 natural and historic interest, it has few points that recom- 

 mend it for use as a street-tree. In early summer the 

 leaves become discolored, shrivel and fall. In fact, this tree 

 is continually dropping something. The bud-scales and the 

 flowers fall in the spring, the leaves in the summer, and the 

 husks and nuts of the fruit in the autumn. The tree is also 

 subject to the attacks of many insect enemies, the chief of 

 which are the leopard moth and the tussock moth. The tree 

 is at its best when grown in the open ; but where maples 

 and oaks can be successfully grown there is little in the 

 horse-chestnut to recommend it for street-planting. 



THE PLANE TREES 



Oriental Plane {Platanus orientalis Linn.). — The oriental 

 plane combines, to a greater degree than any other tree, 

 the characteristics of rapid growth with everything that is 

 desirable in shade-trees. It is perfectly hardy, grows a 

 straight stem, and forms a symmetrical, compact, and round 

 head. It has the advantage of the rapid growth of the white 

 maple and the Carolina poplar, and possesses none of their 

 many defects. 



The leaves of the oriental plane are very large, and the 

 tree gives ample shade, but, at the same time, the foliage is 

 not too dense. It is disposed to grow rather large, but it 

 may be pruned without injury at any time and with any 

 degree of severity to make it conform to the width of any 

 street. 



All points considered, the oriental plane makes such an 

 admirable street-tree that there is a temptation to plant it to 

 the exclusion of other trees. For the last few years it has 

 been most extensively used in the cities of Washington and 



