OcrToBeER, 1908 
each case the sections where the various 
trees may be relied upon to flourish. 
DECIDUOUS TREES FOR AVENUES 
The maidenhair tree (Salisburia adian- 
lijolia) has an erect, compact and pyramidal 
habit and is peculiarly suited for a formal 
avenue such as that in the grounds of the 
Agricultural Department at Washington, 
D. C., but it should not be used for very long 
avenues because the rigid straight lines 
then become monotonous. The maidenhair 
tree varies in habit from seed, and should 
therefore be carefully selected in the nursery 
rows so that an avenue may consist of 
similarly habited trees. The denser, erect- 
growing ones are generally best suited for 
avenue purposes, and the spreading, more 
open-growing forms may be planted as 
single specimens or in groups for shade 
effects on the lawn. The foliage of this tree 
is a pleasing rich green, wedge-shaped and 
turns golden yellow in the fall. Perfectly 
hardy as far north as New England and at- 
tains a height of fifty feet. 
The Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra 
var. Italica), extensively used along public 
highways in many parts of Europe, is the 
most columnar tree we have and ranks next 
to the maidenhair tree as a very formal 
avenue tree on account of its very erect 
habit. It has no value for shade but is a 
valuable tree for planting in a very restricted 
area where another tree with long lateral 
branches would be unavailable. Height 
seventy-five to eighty feet; hardy in New 
England. 
The sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 
while of an upright and usually symmetrical 
growth, makes a much more desirable 
avenue of less formal appearance and is 
especially showy in autumn when its foliage 
assumes a golden tint in some trees and in 
others a deep scarlet or purple. Hardy to 
New York. Farther north, some specimens 
of this tree assume a spreading top and are 
exceedingly valuable for shade. It attains a 
height of sixty to seventy-five feet. This tree 
needs careful transplanting with considerable 
pruning of the top at that time. 
The silver, white, or soft maple (Acer 
saccharinum, often called A. dasycarpum) 
owing to its being a host tree for the 
cottony scale, which is rapidly spreading in 
all Northern states, has become less valuable 
than formerly. But in regions free from 
attacks of this insect it is very desirable 
if a rapid growing tree is wanted either for 
avenues or shade. In other respects, how- 
ever, it is not an ideal tree, as the wood 
is brittle and apt to be broken by wind. 
Height, fifty feet; hardy everywhere. 
The Norway maple (Acer platanoides) 
is a better tree if a slower growing one can 
be used. It is free from insect depredations, 
has bright green foliage, and a regular habit 
of growth, forming a dense head. For 
sections above the Middle South no more 
desirable tree could be planted for either 
purpose. Ultimate height, forty to fifty 
feet; and when given good soil is of rapid 
growth. Further south its growth is less 
rapid and habit more compact. 
THE GARDEN. MAGAZINE 
119 
Throughout the entire northern regions and especially New England, the native or white elm (Ulmus Amer- 
icand) is the most dignified of all shade trees 
The scarlet or hard maple (Acer rubrum) 
is indigenous to the Southern states, where 
it is found in almost all soils, but attains its 
greatest height (120 feet) in low, rich, bottom 
lands. It will thrive north to Boston. It 
is one of our earliest spring-blooming trees 
and exceedingly showy when covered with 
its bright, scarlet flowers and still more so 
when its foliage assumes a brilliant red tint 
in autumn. The wood is tougher than that 
of the silver maple and is less subject to 
being broken by heavy winds. Owing to 
its somewhat irregular growth, it is not a very 
desirable tree in the South for avenue plant- 
ing but is most desirable as a shade tree 
and should be given a body of not over ten 
feet high, when a spreading head results. 
Unfortunately, this tree is subject to the 
attack of borers; these should be cut out 
with a knife and a few drops of bisulphide 
of carbon injected into the hole, afterward 
sealing with wax. 
The ash-leaved maple (Acer Negundo), 
a valuable tree for the South, is less so North, 
where it is short lived. But for the Western 
prairies it is one of the fastest growing of 
the maples, withstanding cold and drought 
to a wonderful degree. 
The popular cucumber tree (Magnolia 
acuminata), common in gardens of the 
Atlantic coast from New York southward, 
is best liked in its compact form. Others 
have spreading heads, the difference appear- 
ing early in the seed beds. As a flowering 
shade tree it is one of the very best. Its 
flowers, which open in April, are of an 
The ideal shade tree for lawns and gardens all through the South is the Texas umbrella tree 
