FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 365 



The Ash-leaved Maple puts out its lower branches too near the ground to permit 

 of its use on streets. The Canoe Birch does the same; and if the lower branches were 

 cut off the pyramidal form of the tree would be destroyed and its beauty greatly 

 impaired. The Kentucky Coffee Tree is so unsightly in winter, resembling then a 

 dead tree, that it is better omitted in street planting, especially as it will thrive only in 

 good, moist ground. The European Ash lasts but a few years in our climate, and is 

 in no way superior to our American White Ash. The Sour Gum, or Pepperidge, is 

 a beautiful tree in autumn, but it is too apt to fail in transplanting. The Mountain 

 Ash and Flowering Dogwood are beautiful, but the bright red berries of the one and 

 attractive flowers of the other invite injury ; their proper place, if on a street or road, 

 is inside the fence and in some door yard. The Sycamore Maple has a fine 

 appearance and dense shade; but with so many other maples it is hardly needed. Its 

 place is in the park or arboretum. The Yellow Wood is one of our neatest, prettiest 

 trees, with cream-colored flowers that attract swarms of bees when in bloom; but it 

 has low branches, and its wood is so brittle that the trunk is very apt to split down- 

 wards from where it first divides. The Carolina Poplar or Cottonwood (Populus 

 monilifcra) is often recommended because of its very rapid growth; but this tree sheds 

 a downy, cottony tuft which clings to whatever it falls on, causing so much annoyance 

 that, in many towns, orders were issued for its removal. All of these trees are 

 pleasing in appearance and each has some good qualities to commend its use; but they 

 should be reserved for lawns, door yards, and parks, where they will appear to better 

 advantage than along the curbstones. 



None of the evergreens have a place on the list, for they are of little use as shade 

 trees. Most of them are forest trees which, when growing in the open, assume a 

 different habit, their lower limbs commencing at the ground. A row of White Pines, 

 properly trimmed, might be used on a country road, and the Tamarack, or American 

 Larch, looks well in the farmer's door yard; but all evergreens require skill and great 

 care in transplanting, and seem out of place in city streets. Many of them, however, 

 are highly ornamental, and very useful for park and lawn purposes. 



Rapidity of growth. — Trees have been described here as of rapid growth and slow 

 growth. These are largely relative terms which to some people may convey but little 

 meaning. They will be better understood when the growth rate of some of our well 

 known species is noted. Twenty years after planting, the following named trees will, 

 under ordinarily favorable conditions, attain a diameter approximately as follows: 



White or Silver Maple, . . . . . . . . 22 inches 



American Elm, . . . . . . . , . . 19 " 



Sycamore or Buttonball, . . . . . . . . 18 " 



Tulip Tree, . . . . . . . . . . 18 " 



