Complimentary 
NEW SERIES VOL. X 
NO. 16 
ARNOLD ARBORETUM 
HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
BULLETIN 
OF 
POPULAR INFORMATION 
JAMAICA PLAIN. MASS. OCTOBER 29. 1924 
The genus Quercus, to which Oak-trees belong, is widely distributed 
through the northern hemisphere and some of the species are unsur- 
passed in beauty and magnificence among the trees contained in this 
hemisphere. Comparatively little attention has been paid to them as 
ornamental trees in this country; one is reminded of this fact at this 
season of the year when the splendor of the autumn color of several 
of the species in this climate is shown, and regrets that so few Oaks 
are found in our plantations. A walk at this time in the Arboretum 
through Oak Path from a point on the Meadow Road nearly opposite 
the Centre Street Gate to its junction with Azalea Path on the south- 
ern slope of Bussey Hill will be found interesting and instructive. 
This walk passes by the first Oaks which were planted in the Arbor- 
etum. Beautiful views toward the west, including the Juniper Collec- 
tion and Hemlock Hill, can be obtained from it, and before it joins 
Azalea Path it will pass by some of the handsomest Azaleas in the 
Arboretum. 
Oaks have the reputation of growing slowly, and owing to this rep- 
utation have been neglected by planters. Fifty odd years ago when 
the Arboretum was started few persons in the United States planted 
Oak-trees, and it was practically impossible to obtain in American 
nurseries even the commonest native species. Some of the species 
raised from seeds were first planted in the Arboretum nearly fifty 
years ago when only a few inches tall. The largest of them now are 
taller with thicker trunks than other hardwood trees planted about the 
same time here, like Hickories, Walnuts, Maples, Elms, etc. The tall- 
est of the Oaks planted in the Arboretum are Pin Oaks {Quercus palus- 
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