PARK AND CEMKTERY 
303 
The illustration presented of the Salisburia, or 
Ginkgo, is of a tree growing in old Laurel Hill Ceme- 
tery, Philadelphia, and is one of the finest trees in 
these parts. There are taller trees, but not many of 
the spreading character of this. When photographing 
the tree, its dimensions were taken, and found to be 
in diameter of trunk, 2p2 feet; in height, 55 feet; 
and in spread of branches 50 feet. What makes this 
usual interest is the fact of its 
being a seed-bearing tree. 
Some others in other parts of 
particular tree of more than 
this city are also seed-bearing, 
and as many more are not. As 
with many other trees, there 
have been opinions enter- 
tained in the past that the Sal- 
isburia could not fruit with- 
out the presence of a male 
tree near it, but, evidently, 
there are some trees bearing 
perfect flowers, as the tree il- 
lustrated is near no other one 
that I am aware of, and many 
holly trees are known to bear 
when entirely isolated from 
any other one. The leaves of 
the Salisburia closely resem- 
ble in shape the maiden-hair 
fern, from which circum- 
stance comes its appropriate 
name, maiden-hair tree. I 
should say, too, that late bot- 
anists discard its old name, 
Salisburia, and call it Ginkgo 
triloba. The fruit of this tree 
is produced singly and in 
pairs, and resembles when 
ripe a light yellow, small 
plum, having, too, a stone 
seed as a plum has. As a curi- 
osity these seeds have an attraction ; after falling from 
the tree and being crushed the odor is not agreeable. 
As a rule the tree does not grow as spreading as the 
one photographed, but much pyramidal, sometimes, in 
fact, almost of a Lombardy poplar outline. It is a fine 
tree for avenue planting, and those of our readers 
who have visited Washington will remember a grand 
avenue of them leading to the Agricultural buildings. 
About Philadelphia there are many very fine speci- 
mens, and at least a half dozen known to me of the 
fruit-bearing kind. 
The tree is very popular, not only for its singular 
appearance, but also because of the ease with which 
it may be transplanted. With but ordinary care, one 
rarely fails to grow when transplanted. 
Another surprising fact to most every one is that 
it is a coniferous tree in its botanical relationship, one 
of a very small number of such trees of a deciduous 
character. 
When it is remembered that this tree is from North- 
ern China, and that it stands zero weather here with- 
out the slightest injury — and much below zero at times 
— it is a surprise to many to learn that it is not hardy 
in the North of England, where the cold is not as 
severe as ours. But this is probably owing to the 
lack of proper ripening of the wood in Autumn, as it is 
in the case of many other trees and shrubs which are 
hardy in this country and yet winter kills them in Eng- 
land. 
SAI^ISBURIA ADIANTIFOWA, LAUREI, HILL CEMETERY, PHIEADEEPHIA . 
Salisbtiria Adiantifolia. 
Joseph Meehax. 
