DESCRIPTION OF TREES SUITABLE FOR PLANTING. 



45 



to\\Tis east of Morganton, and south of Ealeigli it does much Ijetter than 

 any other tree of this genus. Trees should be spaced 35 feet. 



White Ash and Biltmore Ash {Fraxinus americana and Fraxinus 

 hiltmoreana) . — These trees are much alike in their foliage and habit; 

 both are found along streams throughout the western portion of the State, 

 extending to considerable elevations on moist mountain slopes. They 

 have habits and cultural characters similar to those of the green and the 

 swamp ashes, but are better adapted for planting in the extreme western 

 portion of the State than either of the latter species. The white ash does 

 not make as vigorous and health_y growth east of the Blue Eidge as the 

 green and swamp ashes and is not so suitable for planting there. They 

 should be spaced 30 feet. 



Small-leaved or Cork Elm {Ulmus data) is found indigenous below 

 an elevation of 2000 feet. A large tree attaining a height of 40 to 60 

 feet, it makes on moist sandy soils rapid growth in youth, and on dryer 

 and stiffer soils rather slow but well sustained growth for a great many 

 years, reaching its prime after the fortieth year and attaining under good 

 conditions an age of 100 years. The slender trunk, only slightly butt- 

 ressed at base, aud covered with very dark gray, often nearly black rough 

 and slightly scaly bark, divides at a low height into numerous, graceful, 

 ascending branches, which form an elongated, vase-shaped crown. The 

 small dark-green leaves are distiehously arranged along the delicate pen- 

 dulous twigs. They appear late in spring and after turning a dull yellow 

 in early autumn, drop gradually until frost. The minute brownish-purple 

 flowers appear in February in small numerous clusters along the twigs, 

 and are succeeded by an abundance of silvery-brown, scale-like fruit which 

 matures and falls the middle of April just before or as the leaves appear. 

 The twigs are slender, dark-brown and often wing-margined on young 

 trees and form graceful, flattened, pendulous sprays. The root system is 

 shallow, only a moderate tap root being developed ; while the lateral roots 

 lie near or on the surface and extend great distances from the tree. The 

 crown of young trees will endure vigorous pruning; old trees, however, 

 recover slowly. While the wood is extremely tough, the forked branches 

 which are numerous are easily split either in wind storms or beneath the 

 weight of sleet (PI. III). For this reason the tree requires careful train- 

 ing in youth to secure a cro^ra free from large forks and formed of nu- 

 merous welPspaced and equal-sized branches (Pis. I and VI). The heart- 

 wood, unless carefully painted after pruning, decays rapidly, but with 

 care trees can be maintained in excellent condition until very old. It is 

 not exacting as to soil and while the growth under unfavorable conditions 

 is slow, the general health remains good. Eeproduction is easily secured 



