OcToBeER, 1908 
from fungus trouble it is better both for 
planting avenues or in streets where tall 
trees are required. The two are much 
alike, and in the nursery rows are almost 
indistinguishable. The Eastern species is 
the more symmetrical in large specimens, 
and is hardy as far north as Massa- 
chusetts. 
The most beautiful of all our Western 
trees for shade and flower is Catalpa 
. Speciosa, of very rapid growth and giving 
timber of lasting quality. It is hardier 
farther north than C. bignonioides, 
and blooms a little later. The only 
drawback with these trees is that they 
become infested during summer with 
hordes of caterpillars which defoliate 
them, and while these are undesirable for 
keeping the trees in good appearance the 
angler finds these caterpillars the most 
appetizing bait for his fish-hook. 
For northern sections there is unques- 
tionably no better tree than the pin oak 
(Quercus palustris) where it grows very 
rapidly, but the rate of growth gradually 
diminishes southward. As it attains age 
the branches gradually assume a drooping 
form and this, added to the deep green 
and finely cut foliage, is the reason for its 
being so largely planted for streets and 
avenues. A handsome instance is seen 
in- Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, where 
this tree seems to have been: first largely 
planted. The foliage turns bright red 
in the fall and a great advantage is that 
its root system, being compact and fibrous, 
allows it to transplant readily. 
The American white elm (Ulmus 
Americana) is the best general purpose 
deciduous avenue or shade tree, growing 
over the widest area, and is used more 
largely than all other native trees com- 
bined. It is hardy from the extreme 
northern sections to the Lower South. 
Usually it has a large head and slightly 
pendulous branches. The elm is of rapid 
growth and transplants with great facility, 
but as its roots are far spreading they 
frequently encroach upon garden spots 
if planted too near them. There are 
many forms found in our forests, some 
seldom attaining a satisfactory growth 
and often of straggling habit. Nursery- 
men who cater to the highest class of trade 
usually select the most rapid and perfect 
forms and graft these, as that is the only 
method by which trees of uniform shape 
and habit can be depended upon. 
The Japanese parasol tree (Sterciulia 
platanifolia) is also known South as the 
Japan varnish tree, owing to the green, 
smooth bark. But this is incorrect as 
the true Japan varnish tree is Rhus 
succodanea or lac sumach, a shrub. The 
parasol tree is a remarkably strong grower, 
round topped, with very large palmate 
leaves, and is covered in June with large 
clusters of pale yellowish flowers, whose 
sweet fragrance attracts multitudes of 
honey bees. Therefore, many apicul- 
turists value and plant this tree for bee 
pasture. It is not hardy above the 
Middle South, where it is sometimes used 
GARDEN MAGAZINE 
One of the beauties of the sweet gum is its showy 
golden and scarlet autumn leaves 
for street planting or shade. Ultimate 
height, thirty to forty feet. 
THE CHOICEST OF EVERGREENS 
I have already stated why evergreens 
are the less useful, generally, as avenue 
trees, but for shade alone there can be no 
question of the service rendered by a 
121 
perpetual mantle of foliage. They are 
not less littering in the shedding of their 
leaves, of course. As a group, the ever- 
green oaks are the most rugged and 
generally useful for al! purposes and 
situations, demanding less in the way of 
soil, etc., than other trees. There are 
several semi-evergreen species that may 
be grown in the South, such as Spanish 
oak (Q. falcata), water oak (Q. nigra), 
willow oak (Q. Phellos), etc., which often 
retain their foliage until January, but for 
the Middle and Lower South the live oak 
(Q. Virginiana or virens) surpasses them 
all for the beauty of outline. Many 
Northern tourists who have seldom seen 
this noble tree without an abundant growth 
of long Spanish moss do not fancy the 
funereal look which these trees then 
assume; this is usually the case along the 
sections of the sea coast. But in the upper 
districts its green and glossy foliage is free 
from moss and retained throughout the 
year. The top is wide and spreading. 
As young specimens transplant with great 
facility this tree is therefore of great value 
to the planter. The early colonists who 
made their abodes in the Lower South 
saw the beauty of this tree and used it 
extensively for avenue planting. Many 
of these stately reminiscences of the 
prosperous era of the early settlements 
are found along the Lower South belt and 
remain an evidence of the broad ideas 
and esthetic taste of the men of a past 
generation. The largest of the Southern 
native trees are live oaks, attaining a 
height of seventy feet. It is not hardy 
above Washington. Other evergreen trees 
are discussed on page 142. 
Maidenhair tree is peculiarly suited for formal avenues of not too great length, Select trees of one type 
