HICKS NURSERIES, WESTBURY, L. I. 



DECIDUOUS TREES 



OAK • Ouercus 



Pin. Q. palustris. This species we have available in all 

 sizes up to 45 feet. Our stock presents an unparalleled op- 

 portunity to obtain mature landscape results. The Pin 

 Oak is a tree that is worthy of the general admiration it 

 receives, and owners of them usually take great pride in 

 pointing out the rapid growth and handsome appearance 

 of their Pin Oaks. They occasionally grow 3 feet per 

 year where they receive enough food and water. The Pin 

 Oak is one of the easiest Oaks to transplant. That is not 

 saying, however, that it is as easy as a Willow, Poplar or 

 Maple. 



All Oaks should be severely cut back when trans- 

 planted, especially at the extreme top. If, at this point, 

 three or four vigorous shoots are sufficient, do not cut 

 back and still leave fifty buds to start, but thin out more 

 of the remainder until there are only a few plump buds 

 near the top, and then at intervals of about a foot down 



Red Oak shading a path on the Mineola Fair Grounds. These have grown 

 "better than any other trees on the grounds, and are much larger than the trees 

 supposed to be quicker, because they kept right on through drought and neglect. 



the stem. If the tree is a broad-spreading specimen, cut 

 back the ends of the branches two feet or more and thin 

 out the remainder, as suggested above. The critical time 

 is the first dry, hot week in July. The Oak is then liable 

 t;0 die suddenly, because it has not made sufficient new 

 roots. The tree can be saved when it is seen to wilt by 

 cutting back still more and by thorough watering. With- 

 out this help, it is liable to die. The Maple, on the other 

 hand, is more likely to pull through unaided. It is best 

 to foresee this critical period and prune the tree sufficiently 

 when planting; then dig down among the roots in June to 

 see that the tree has sufficient water. 



A young Pin Oak can be distinguished from all other 

 Oaks by the long, slender lower branches which have a 

 definite downward angle. Other Oaks have the branches 

 horizontal or ascending. The leaves are small, deeply 

 cut, and resemble those of the Scarlet Oak, except that 

 the base is V-shaped. The foliage is red in autumn. The 

 Scarlet Oak is found on drier ground. 



Much of our work is moving large trees from the wild 

 growth. You can find large Pin Oaks in the valleys. We 

 can move them to your lawn. It may be a pleasant rec- 

 reation to look over your region for a radius of ten miles, 

 and select the best available trees for composing your 

 landscape. The Pin Oak is one of the species to look for. 

 By remembering its ovate outline, and declining lower 



branches, it can be recognized at a distance of half a mile. 

 Trees growing singly along fences, or borders of the woods, 

 are better than trees crowded in the thick woods. The 

 latter, however, can be cut to bare poles 8 inches in 

 diameter, and 24 feet high, or 3 inches in diameter at the 

 top, and make handsome, pyramidal trees 12 feet wide 

 in five years. These can be used for groves and screen- 

 groups or even for avenues. We do not recommend them 

 for the latter purpose because of their unsightly appear- 

 ance while developing; but we want it to be known that 

 it is practical to develop the highest type of landscape 

 from such unpromising local material. 



Red. Q. rubra. This is a big, broad tree, having all 

 the qualifications associated with the name Oak, except 

 that of slow growth. It is not particular as to soil. In 

 the autumn the foliage turns a deep red. It has the largest 

 leaves of any of the Oaks. The Oaks are the most im- 

 portant forest trees of Long Island; 

 therefore we are growing them in large 

 ] quantities, and root- pruning them to 



keep them in the best condition for 

 transplanting. We make holes 18 inches 

 deep, and plant little Oaks one or two 

 years old. They are in squares so they 

 can be root-pruned in each direction by 

 a root-pruner pulled by a steel cable. 



Scarlet. Q. coccinea. This species 

 is probably the most common tree on 

 Long Island. The foliage is deep 

 scarlet in the autumn, turning to 

 russet-red and remaining on all winter. 

 Its autumn color is more brilliant than 

 that of the other Oaks. It is native 

 on the driest soils, and makes a large, 

 broad-spreading, dignified tree. This 

 species requires severe cutting back 

 when transplanting. The large sizes 

 are not available in nurseries in quan- 

 tity, but we have been able to work up 

 a large stock of small plants, there 

 having been a heavy crop of acorns in 

 1909. We advise that these be exten- 

 sively planted among other trees and 

 shrubs to give the best permanent 

 landscape. The little trees will grow 

 readily, and you will be surprised to 

 see how they take care of themselves 

 and always look cheerful in a drought, 

 much more so than do the trees easier to transplant. 



Black. Q. velutina; syn., Q. tinctoria. This grows with 

 the Scarlet Oak, and was formerly considered a variety of 

 it. The leaves are larger and more leathery, and the 

 bark is black. We have a limited number of excellent trees, 

 8 to 12 feet high, that have been recently root-pruned and 

 transplanted. Those wishing Oaks for dry situations are 

 recommended to try them. 



Post. Q. stellata; syn., Q. ohtusiloha. This is one of the 

 slowest - growing Oaks on Long Island. It has great 

 drought-resisting qualities, and it is found on coarse, 

 gravelly soil. Even a small tree has the rough, rugged 

 look of an old Oak. 



White. Q. alba. The American White Oak comes 

 nearest to the English Oak and therefore to the definition 

 of Oak in literature and art. It is easily distinguished 

 by its rounded lobes about like a finger-tip. The bark is 

 light gray and flaky. It is a sturdy tree, in all stages 

 worthy of respect. You will get more satisfaction from a 

 White Oak tree 10 feet high than from a poplar of 20 

 feet. Our stock of 2- to 6-feet-high trees has recently 

 been transplanted and should give good results. 



Chestnut. Q. Prinus. The leaves of this tree are like 

 those of the Chestnut. It is a large tree, native of the 

 sandy slopes around the harbors on the north side of 

 Long Island and the gravel.'y soil of the Rockaway peninsula. 



18 



