DESCRIPTION OF TREES SUITABLE FOR PLANTING. 57 



There are several species of extensively advertised foreign maples, but 

 none have any characters which would give them preference for this State 

 over the native species for cleanliness, health, rapidity of growth, sym- 

 metry or beauty of autumnal foliage. 



Dogwood (Cornus florida), a common native tree fully as beautiful in 

 autumn with its crimson foliage and in winter with its small clusters of 

 scarlet fruit as in spring when covered with a profusion of large white 

 flowers. It is too small, however, to be used as a shade tree under any 

 circumstances, 10 to 15 feet being the usual height; but it might occa- 

 sionally be alternated on broad planting strips with standard shade trees. 

 It is not difficult to transplant but is of slow growth and the stems should 

 be well trimmed up before it is permitted to form a crown. 



Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) is one of our most striking native trees, 

 with slender horizontal branches, short, spur-like twigs, and dark green 

 clean glossy foliage which becomes crimson in early autumn. It makes a 

 very handsome shade tree for parks or private grounds and might be 

 occasionally tried for street planting. It is difficult to transplant, 

 however. 



Sweet Gum (Liquidambar), a common tree in this State east of 

 Statesville, reaches a large size, making rapid growth, especially in youth. 

 The stout trunk is excurrent. The crown, formed of numerous branches, 

 is conical in young specimens and ovoid in old. The twigs are large, 

 rather abundant and are frequently cork-winged. The foliage is dense, 

 very deeply lobed, of a bright pleasing green color and becomes scarlet in 

 autumn. 



Some little difficulty is experienced in transplanting sweet gum on ac- 

 count of its deeply seated tap-root, requiring it to be moved when young 

 and very small. If carefully moved it readily takes root and makes satis- 

 factory growth on moist, loose soils. The leader should not be cut back 

 beyond the wood of the season, since false leaders are readily produced 

 in the branches, which cause misshapen crowns. Even old trees, however, 

 stand vigorous lateral pruning. The sweet gum is free from insects and 

 diseases but freshly exposed wood surfaces decay rapidly. On account 

 of its narrow conical crown, handsome foliage and nice appearance in the 

 winter, the regular ascending branches and shining twigs, often having 

 the globose fruit cones pendant from them until the following spring, it 

 is suitable for planting avenues or for other formal lines. It should be 

 spaced 40 feet. 



Locust or Yellow Locust (Robinia pseudacacia) . — This tree is found 

 throughout the middle and western portions of the State. It is a slender 

 tree of medium growth, attaining in favored localities a height of 50 feet 



