park: and ce/Aetery. 
1 66 
Trees in Tower Qrove Park, St. Louis, Mo. 
Tower Grove Parkis notable for its trees. There 
are probably more species represented and fine 
specimens of a greater number of varieties than any 
other park in the United States can show. 
Henry Shaw, the founder of Shaw’s Garden, now 
known as the Missouri Botanical Garden, presented 
this park to 
the city in 
1867, and he 
not only de- 
signed the ori- 
g i n a 1 im- 
p r o ve m e nts 
and planting, 
but was in act- 
ive control of 
all that were 
added up to 
the time of his 
death in 1889 
at the age of 
nearly 90 
years. The 
knowledge of 
trees gained 
by him from 
e X p e r iments 
made in the 
Arboretum 
connected 
with the gar- 
den, was of 
great help in selecting trees for the park, which was 
originally a treeless tract. 
Mr. James Gurney, who was then, c,s now, head 
gardener at the Botanical Garden, has, since Mr. 
Shaw’s death, been superintendent of the park, and 
that no man is better fitted to talk of trees is shown 
by the rapid growth and symmetrical, yet free devel- 
opment of the vast number of those contained in the 
park, for they have been in his care from the out- 
set. 
LiyuiDAMBER OR SWEET UUM. — Styraciflua. 
The tree growths are such that quite apart from 
its beauty the sylva of the park is valuable as il- 
lustrating the size, habit and qualities of trees best 
adapted to the St. Louis climate. Indeed, any one 
interested in tree culture generally may get many 
usefulfacts and suggestions from an examination of 
the specimens and results to be seen here. The 
trees in the original plantings were set singly, in 
groups and in lines — the principal criticism that 
landscape gardeners of the present are likely to 
make is that rather too many were set in lines. 
Both coniferous and deciduous trees are used, 
and many fine contrasts of form and tint are seen. 
Dark foliage of Ash and Elm trees are relieved by 
the paler green of the Sycamore and Maple, there 
being some remarkably fine Norway Maples among 
the numerous varieties grown. Broad leaved sorts, 
such as the Cucumber and Tulip, are offset by 
feathery Cypress and graceful Birch; and as a con^ 
trast to the many round-headed and broad-topped 
trees, such as Liquidamber, Magnolias, Linden, 
English Elm, many varieties of Oak and others, there 
rises at appropriate points the trim spire of various 
Cypresses, an occasional Lombardy Poplar and that 
other and more desirable fastigiate tree, the Japan- 
ese Gingko, than which no tree is more attractive in 
its way. Indeed, personally, I find the unusual 
shape of the leaves, and especially the fantastic 
form of the female Gingko tree, quite Japanesque 
and as fascinating as the Bronzes, Porcelains, Lac- 
quers, flowers and people from quaint Japan. 
The park is rich in Oaks, many varieties being 
represented; also in Magnolias, every kind except- 
ing the tender M. Grandiflora, thriving well. And 
a magnificent showing is made of such trees as the 
Kentucky Coffee, Ifnglish and Scotch Elm, Sweet 
Gum, European Ash and Linden, Buckeye, Yellow- 
wood and Tulip. Tulip trees are numerous and 
when thickly covered in their season with yellow 
cup-shaped flowers are a beautiful sight. The Yel- 
lowwoods, too, when in blossom, are wonderfully 
attractive and one -'■ ■■ . - ,, 
questions why they 
are so seldom seen. 
It is found here 
that European trees 
are driving out those 
of native growth. 
They seem better 
able to withstand 
disease and the at- 
tacks of insects. 
Many native variet- 
ies are being )'early 
turned out to make 
room or give place 
to their more vigor- 
ous foreign rela- 
tives. 
The English Elm 
and European Ash 
do far better than 
the American Elm 
and Ash and this is 
true all along the 
line. The one feat- 
ure in the care of 
the park trees that is 
most noticeable is -jhe gingko. 
