120 
inconspicuous, greenish yellow. They are 
succeeded by cone-like fruits, whence its 
popular name. Like all magnolias its 
fleshy roots spread to a great distance and 
when planted in rich soil the growth is 
very rapid. It must not be planted in the 
fall. It can be used to good effect for avenues 
as can also the tulip tree or poplar (Lirio- 
dendron tulipijera) of the Southern states. 
This tree attains a great height and though 
soft wooded lives very long. Its tulip-like 
yellow-green flowers are very pretty in the 
mass. Both these trees are hardy through- 
out New England and are very desirable 
shade trees, being also equally suitable for 
wide avenues of considerable length. 
TREES WITH SPREADING HEADS 
The trees named below are especially 
suited for wide avenues in open landscape 
and for long stretches where generous shade 
and variety of mass form are most wanted. 
Of these the hackberry or sugarberry (Celtis 
occidentalis) is perhaps the most valuable 
because of its freedom from insect depre- 
dations, but is not always successful in the 
New England sections. 
is often a hundred feet. 
It is my experience that the American 
white ash (Fraxinus Americana) is to be 
preferred of all trees for rapid growth, and 
it is especially adapted to rich, deep soils. 
The autumn tint of the foliage is of a deep 
brown or purplish shade. As a shade tree 
it must be given ample room as its roots 
spread to a great distance. The tree is 
very variable and has several marked 
forms. Though liable to the attacks of 
a number of insects, it does not seem to suf- 
fer much injury fromthem. It grows roo feet 
or more high all over the Eastern United 
States from Canada to Texas. 
A tree somewhat rarely seen, although 
long in cultivation, is the Chinese golden rain 
tree (Kelreuteria paniculata), which grows 
The tulip tree is one of the largest shade trees and 
thrives North and South 
Its height South. 
THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 
to a height of thirty feet in the South but 
seldom beyond half that size in New England, 
where it is, however, perfectly hardy except 
that a branch may be killed back occa- 
sionally. Its great beauty consists in its 
long terminal panicles of bright yellow 
flowers, which open in May and entirely 
envelop the whole head of the tree and last 
three weeks. The pinnate foliage and flat, 
spreading head gives this tree a peculiarly 
pleasing appearance. It may be used for 
short avenues or where taller growing trees 
surround it. 
Characteristic of the Southern states is 
the Melia, which cannot thrive north of the 
Piedmont region, being sometimes injured 
even there. Although a native of Persia 
and India, it has become naturalized all over 
the Southern states owing to its profuse 
crops of berries which being carried by 
birds start new colonies which are often found 
in secluded woods. It grows with great 
rapidity in any good soil, although I have 
seen somewhat dwarfed trees along the 
Southern Pacific Railroad in the arid lands 
of Arizona; there it seems to be the only 
tree found near some of the station houses. 
It is well named Indian lilac, because of its 
numerous lilac colored flowers which are 
produced during April and have the delight- 
ful fragrance of the violet. The wood is 
brittle and when trees grow old they are apt 
to have their tops broken. However, no 
tree can be better recommended for very 
rapid growth and excellent shade. 
The umbrella form (Melia Azederach 
var. umbraculiformis), commonly known 
in the South as the umbrella, China or 
Texas umbrella tree, is most unique in 
appearance. The first trees which came 
to my notice were sent from San Jacinto, 
Texas, about 1870. No record of its 
introduction there could be found and 
owing to the peculiar round shaped head 
and drooping foliage I sent specimens 
to the late Dr. Asa Gray, who endorsed 
my suggestion of umbraculiformis for a 
name. This is now one of the most 
favorite ornamental trees of the South; 
of rapid growth, and in early spring, pro- 
ducing an abundance of fragrant flowers. 
No insects have so far as I know ever 
infested it. Planted for a short avenue 
and given great distance, no tree gives a 
more characteristic effect. It seldom 
exceeds twenty feet in height, but the top 
spreads in the course of time to the same 
width. Not hardy north of the Middle. 
South, and the trees are apt to split when 
reaching a great age, as the branches 
radiate from a low stem. As a shade 
tree for our Southern gardens it is un- 
rivaled, and the North has no counterpart. 
In Hovenia dulcis we have another 
Asiatic tree of medium height, twenty to 
twenty-five feet, quite hardy, that has 
marked characteristics. The long petioled 
leaves; greenish, inconspicuous flowers, 
followed by small globular fruit with 
fleshy and edible peduncles, make it an 
interesting tree. Its handsome shining 
foliage and regular symmetrical head, 
perfect freedom from insects, and ability 
OcToseEr, 1908 
The Empress tree with its blue flowers is unique, 
thrives from New York south 
to stand a temperature of near zero, com- 
bine to make it a very desirable small 
tree as a single specimen or for a short 
avenue, where a comparatively small, 
neat tree is desired. 
Because of its violet flowers, which are 
very rare in large trees, the Japanese em- 
press tree (Paulownia imperialis) is valued. 
In 1852, while in Europe, I purchased four 
small plants in Belgium, where they had 
then just been introduced, and planted 
three at Plainfield, N. J., the other was 
presented to the late William Reid of 
Elizabeth. These small plants made a 
most rapid growth and their unusally large 
leaves attracted much attention. The 
fragrant, violet colored flowers which are 
produced in early spring before the leaves 
appear, add much to the tree’s value; but 
they are sometimes overlooked, appearing 
only against the blue sky. It has sometimes 
been planted for avenues, but its brittle 
branches, which are frequently broken 
by high winds, make it less desirable for 
that purpose than for single specimens. 
Planted in good soil the first year’s growth 
is very rapid, but when the tree begins to 
branch out it is only moderate and the 
size of the leaves diminishes. Height 
seven feet; hardy in New England. 
Easily recognized by its bark, of a 
nearly white color and scaling off in plates, 
is the sycamore or buttonwood, a stately 
tree, often attaining the height of 100 feet 
and hardy throughout the whole United 
States. It is used both for avenues and 
shade, is of rapid growth, but in some 
localities is injured by fungus diseases. 
Some twenty to thirty years ago nearly 
every tree South of the native Platanus 
occidentalis was more or less the victim of 
this trouble which caused many to die, 
and their importance for street planting di- 
minished. Of late years this defect has 
greatly lessened and most trees are again in 
a healthy condition. But as the European 
or Eastern species (P. orientalis) is free 
