66 



SHADE TREES FOR NORTH CAROLINA. 



red, falling tardily, many leaves on the lower brandies persisting through 

 the winter. The white oak is easily transplanted and stands pruning 

 better than any of the large red and Avhite oaks, except the swamp chest- 

 nut oak. The foliage is clean and free from disease and it maintains its 

 health and vigor to an advanced age. Trees should be spaced not less 

 than 80 feet, if unrestricted growth is to be permitted. 



On account of its slow growth in youth and very large size and the 

 wide-spreading crown of old specimens, the white oak is 'not an entirely 

 satisfactory tree for general street planting, although if used with discre- 

 tion, it has its place and will amply justify the time required for it to 

 attain its perfection. It is bordering wide avenues and in parks or on 

 grounds of ample extent where its majesties crown and massive trunk can 

 attain their full proportions that the white oak shows to fullest advantage. 



Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii) , frequentl}^^ found along 

 streams and in swamps east of Salisbury, is a tree of scarcely less size and 

 dignity than the wliite oak and is of far more rapid growth, especially in 

 youth. 



The foliage, while larger than that of the former and a slightly lighter 

 green, droops from the twigs in the same manner and colors in autumn 

 even more brilliantly. The branchlets are stouter and the twigging less 

 abundant than in the white oak, and in favored localities the height and 

 spread of the crown ecv.al the dimensions of the white oak. Its pref- 

 erence is for a moist, loose soil, and abundant root room, but even on 

 heavy dry clays it makes more rapid growth in youth than the white oak. 

 The acorns are very large and occasionally are borne in great abundance, 

 which, is a drawback to planting beside paved walks. For middle parking 

 strips, wide avenues or roadside ^jlanting, it is among the most desirable 

 species. It is easily propagated from seed and stands vigorous pruning 

 better than any other of the large white or red oaks. 



Northern Eed Oak {Quercus rubra) is a common ti'ee in the moun- 

 tains of this State and frequent in cool hollows as far east as Ealeigh and 

 Charlotte. 



This tree scarcely seems to be desirable east of Morganton. In the 

 mountains, however, where it passes under the local names of water and 

 mountain oak, it should be considered among the choicest oaks. It 

 attains a very large size, making rapid growth to quite an advanced age, 

 and while there are no records of cultivated specimens in this State 

 more than 30 years old, it reaches as a forest tree an age of more than 

 200 years, and a height of more than 100 feet with a crown spread ex- 

 ceeding 60 feet, and it can reasonably be expected that, in favored loca- 

 tions the red oak will reach proportions in the western part of this State 



