HICKS NURSERIES, WESTBURY, L. I. 



DECIDUOUS TREES 



POPLARS, continued 



Carolina. P. deUoides, var. Caroline7isis. The Carolina 

 Poplar is the most commonly planted, as it quickly forms 

 a tall tree. However, for most Long Island soil, it is a 

 failure after a few years, and we know of no one who is 

 pleased with it after ten or fifteen years. To do well, 

 it needs rich soil in localities free from drought. 



Lombardy. P. nigra, var. Italica; syn., P. fastigiata; 

 P. dilatata. The Lombardy Poplar has distinct char- 

 acteristics, and may be used for landscape effect to 

 vary the sky-Hne. It is ragged and short-lived on Long 

 Island, and we do not recommend it for screen- or mass- 

 planting, although it is frequently ordered for that pur- 

 pose because of its rapid, tall growth. 



For making a satisfactory screen, we have tall trees 

 of better species, such as the Silver Maple, Norway Maple 

 and Pin Oak, which will keep dense foliage. If these grow 

 too broad, they can be cut back at the sides, as is done in 

 France and Holland. 



Balsam. P. balsamifera. Similar to the Japanese 

 Poplar. It has large, dark green, leathery leaves and is 

 well adapted for seaside planting. It keeps in better 

 condition than the Carolina Poplar. 



PTEROCARYA 



Laevigata. In the arboretum of the late Charles A 

 Dana there is an immense tree, spreading 75 feet. The 

 huge branches start out at the ground, giving it the 

 appearance of the Banyan tree. We have a few seed- 

 lings from it. The foliage is like the Hickory, to which 

 it is related. 



Tulip Tree planted about ten years 

 ago. The large orange -and-gre en 

 flowers are like the Tulip, and appear in May, 



it--' 



Silver Bell tree at Flushing, Long Island 



SILVER BELL • Snowdrop Tree 



Halesia Tetraptera 



There are a number of flowering trees of medium size 

 that are comparatively little used. This is one of the best. 

 Others are Dogwood, Styrax, Kcelreuteria, and Hawthorn. 



The Silver Bell is densely laden in May with dainty, 

 white, bell-shaped flowers, like the exquisite Snowdrop 

 of early spring. It is very pretty then and has no bad 

 features at any other time of the year. It usually grows 

 up with several stems like a Gray Birch. It will make a 

 tree 25 feet high. We have a number of big plants, 8 to 

 12 feet high, that will give immediate and mature results. 



SOPHORA 



Japonica. Imagine a round-headed tree with leaves 

 and flowers shaped like those of the Locust, but with 

 darker and more glossy foliage, and you have a good 

 picture of the Sophora. The flowers are handsome in 

 effect and appear in midsummer when flowers are scarce. 

 They are more showy than those of the Locust, because 

 they are borne in upright panicles outside the foliage, 

 while the Locusts have the flowers hanging down among 

 the leaves. It dislikes dry situations. 



THORN • Crataegus 



Cockspur. C. Crus-galli. This is a little tree, or big 

 bush, 10 to 15 feet high, hung with brilliant scarlet 

 fruits in autumn. Our stock is from wild trees on the 

 Hempstead plains. It grows on other exposed places, 

 such as Montauk Point. There are points where some- 

 thing more dignified than the conventional mass of shrub- 

 bery is needed, and yet low foliage is required. At such 

 points there can be planted Cockspur Thorn, Beech, Dog- 

 wood, Hornbeam, Small-leaved Linden, Liquidambar or 

 Pin Oak. In all of these, we have trees branched at the 

 ground, and they will all maintain their lower branches 

 if given suflicient space. A part of our stock has been 

 trimmed in the form of a hedge. 



20 



