56 



SHADE TREES FOR NORTH CAROLINA. 



neath. It is a middle-sized tree seldom attaining in cultivation a greater 

 height than 35 feet. The growth in youth is rapid but it falls off con- 

 siderably when past middle age. As a shade tree it is not very long-lived 

 and specimens -iO years old are usually past their prime. The rather 

 slender trunk covered with light gray scaly bark divides into a few spread- 

 ing branches which form an oval, usually unsymmetrical crown. The 

 bright red spreading twigs are stouter, shorter and stiffer than in the hard 

 maples and are knotted during the deciduous season by the large, globose 

 flower buds, from which in February and March appear the small clusters 

 of bright red or yellow flowers, followed by dense masses of fruit, at first 

 green, and at length just as the leaves are appearing, bright scarlet. 



It is one of the trees most easily transplanted, but only malies satis- 

 factory growth on soils of good quality and should not be planted on 

 stiff, dry, or on very light, poor soils. It stands trimming well, espe- 

 cially when young. 



The leaves are netted by leaf miners and spotted by a species of para- 

 sitic fungus. Young stems are subject to sun-scald if unprotected, and 

 freshly exposed wood is liable to rapid decay. Seeds mature in May and 

 should be at once planted. Trees should be spaced 30 feet. 



Silver Maple {Acei' saccharinum) is a native of river swamps in the 

 eastern portion of the State, but is extensively planted in all of the larger 

 towns. It is a small or middle-sized tree, seldom more than 30 feet in 

 height; short-lived, attaining its prime in 20 or 25 years, and making very 

 rapid growth especially in youth. The slender trunk, covered with dark 

 gray, scaly bark, divides at a low height into a few slender, ascending 

 branches which form an irregular broadly oval or flat-topped croATO. The 

 long, rather stout and bright colored twigs are pendulous as are the 

 branchlets. The beautiful, deeply-lobed, bright green foliage appears 

 very early in spring, forms rather a light shade during summer, turns 

 very brilliant in autumn and falls early. 



It roots extremely easy and is one of the most readily transplanted 

 trees. Even large specimens stand heavy pruning. The leaves are sub- 

 ject to few diseases, but the soft brittle wood is easily broken by sleet and 

 wind storms and decays rapidly on exposed surfaces. It is easily propa- 

 gated from seed Avhich mature in May. Trees should be spaced 35 feet. 



Box Elder or Ash-leaved Maple {Acer negundo) is a native tree 

 which is much advertised by nurserymen. It is related in its twigging 

 and general characters to the maples, but is much smaller than any which 

 have been mentioned. It is too small in fact to make a desirable shade 

 tree and its habit of low branching and forming short stems, which is not 

 easily rectified, makes it generally undesirable. 



