54 SHADE TREES FOR NORTH CAROLINA. 



charming winter effect. The leaves, small and silvery-white beneath, 

 form a dense canop3\ In this State it apparently is better adapted to 

 both poor and heavy soils than the native species. Its tendency however 

 is to form a short trunk and this must be rectified by judicious trimming. 

 (Tilia europea, T. parvifolia, etc., should not be planted.) Trees should 

 be spaced 30 feet. 



Horse Chestnut (Aesculus octandra), a native of Asia Minor, is now 

 extensively naturalized in this State. It is a middle-sized tree making 

 rapid growth until well advanced in age. The stout trunk covered with 

 gray-brown scaly bark is naturally excurrent in the juvenile period, but 

 divides into many branches in middle age. The crown, oval in youth, 

 becomes very broadly oval in old age, or when the tree is heavily topped. 

 The dense foliage is compound and droops from the tips of the common 

 leaf stalk. The large panicles of highly ornamental white, pink-tipped 

 flowers are succeeded by the fruit burrs. The straight stout chestnut- 

 brown twigs bear during the winter large oval buds. While a deep tap- 

 root is naturally developed, the trees are easily transplanted and root 

 readily. Few trees are more tolerant of the knife and the crowns recover 

 vigorously after heavy pollarding. Young trees are easily raised from seed 

 which are borne in abundance. Trees should be spaced 35 feet. 



Buckeye (Aesculus) , a native, middle-sized tree, is suitable for plant- 

 ing on fertile soil west of the Blue Ridge. It preserves the same general 

 character as the horse chestnut, but is more exacting as to soil and the 

 flowers are not so showy. Forms occur with pink and red as well as yel- 

 low flowers. The flowering period, which is early in May, lasts only a few 

 days. Trees should be spaced 30 feet. 



Maples (Acer). — The maples constitute the most widely planted 

 group of shade trees in the United States, and are probably better adapted 

 to street conditions than any other trees. There are four native species 

 which are suitable for planting in this State. 



Norway Maple (Acer platarwides) .- — Besides the native species, de- 

 scribed below, this European tree has been planted at considerable expense 

 around many towns. It has fastigiate branches and forms a narrow crown. 

 Its foliage is not so dense as that of the native species, but closely resem- 

 bles that of the sugar maple, from which, localky, it is not separated. It 

 lacks the autumnal brilliancy of the native trees and is not superior to 

 well-growri stock of the native hard maples. 



Southern Maple or Southern Sugar Maple, grows in this State 

 along streams east of Salisbury. It is a middle-sized tree, seldom attain- 

 ing a height of more I ban 10 feel, making rapid growth in youth which 

 is fairly well maintained until past middle age, but the growth in old age 



