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362 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



The White or Silver Maple is a favorite shade tree in both town and country. It 

 bears transplanting as well as any other, grows rapidly, withstands pruning, and is 

 exceedingly graceful. Its slender, pendant branches are easily swayed by the breeze, 

 giving it a waving, flowing appearance, which is made still more attractive by its 

 silvery hue when agitated by the wind, the under side of the leaves having a whitish 

 color which is then exposed to view. The deeply cleft shape of the leaves adds also 

 to its beauty. 



The Red Maple is a rapid-growing tree. In addition to many of the good qualities 

 belonging to the maples, it displays a scarlet leaf in early autumn, which changes later 

 to a dark crimson. Its foliage is the first to change color, some trees showing their 

 red leaves early in August. Its conspicuous red flowers make it noticeable, also, in 

 early spring. As it seldom attains full size when planted in cities it is well adapted 

 to narrow streets. 



There seems to be a general prejudice against the Ailanthus ; and yet it withstands 

 the injurious effects of city life better than any other species. It has a peculiar beauty, 

 also, in the graceful sweep of its large, pinnate leaves which are suggestive of the 

 staghorn sumach, and which remain green until they fall. Objection has been made 

 to the disagreeable odor of its flowers. But this lasts for only a few days, and can be 

 entirely obviated by planting pistillate trees. The peculiar bark, in which there is 

 traced an arabesque-like pattern, makes the Ailanthus an interesting study to 

 all lovers of trees. 



The Cucumber Tree is a magnolia of stately growth, with a trunk from sixty to 

 eighty feet in height. It grows rapidly, develops a pyramidal form, and fulfills all 

 the requirements of a desirable shade tree. It is advisable to use a small 

 tree in transplanting. 



For narrow streets, or where there is little space between the house line and the 

 curbstone, the Ginkgo is well adapted, as it does not attain a wide spread. When 

 fully grown it is over sixty feet high; but in New York, with its cold winters, this 

 species does not grow to its full size, although hardy and thrifty in other respects. 

 This tree is not slow in growth, but still it furnishes little shade until it approaches 

 maturity, when it assumes a tapering form with ample foliage. Thus far the ginkgo 

 has been free from destructive insects. Its peculiar, fan-shaped leaves, in form like 

 those of the maidenhair fern, retain their olive green color until early autumn, when 

 they change to a rich yellow. Though not an evergreen it is a conifer, of the Yew 

 family, a distinction seldom noticed by many who are familiar with the 

 appearance of the tree. 



The Willows furnish some species that are available for shade and ornament. The 

 one best adapted for street planting is the Bay or Laurel-leaved Willow {Salix pen- 



