CHOICE OF TREES AND SHRUBS FOR CITIES AND RURAL TOWNS.—NO. 5. 
335 
CHOICE OF TREES AND SHRUBS FOR 
CITIES AND RURAL TOWNS.—No. 5. 
The Kentucky CojfeeAree also occupies a wide 
geographical range, and is found more or less 
planted, as a shade-tree, in most, if not all the Mid¬ 
dle and Northern States of the Union. Being very 
hardy, and remarkable for the beauty of its dense 
foliage, in summer, it forms an appropriate object 
for planting in parks, and for lining broad avenues, 
or public highways. But, from its large size, and 
the unsightly aspect presented by its blunt, naked 
branches in winter, it seems unfitted for the streets 
of cities and densely populated towns. 
The Balm of Gilead (poplar), on account of the 
medicinal value attached to its buds, and the de¬ 
lightful odor they diffuse through the air, in spring, 
has been more frequently planted in the neighbor¬ 
hood of human habitations tfean any of its conge¬ 
ners. If. has the advantage of growing in almost 
every soil, however poor, where it readily attains 
the size of a second or third-rank tree ; but as a 
subject for planting in streets near dwellings, or in 
gardens, it is particularly objectionable on account 
of its long, creeping roots, which run just below 
the surface, and throw up numerous suckers, diffi¬ 
cult to eradicate, when wounded by the spade or 
plow. And to these objections, may be added the 
cottony, worm-like aments, with which the ground 
is strewn, soon after the tree is in flower, and what, 
appears to be more serious still, is the liability of its 
branches and even the trunk itself, when very tall, 
to be broken, or shattered by the wind. 
The Catalpa, from its large bunches of white 
flowers, marked with purple and yellow spots, with 
which it is clothed in summer, has been extensively 
planted in streets, parks, and other ornamental 
grounds, from the State of Connecticut to Georgia, 
and westward beyond the Mississippi. This tree 
is o.f rapid growth until it reaches the height of 
twenty feet, which, in a deep, free soil, it will usu¬ 
ally attain in ten or fifteen years. Seedling plants, 
under favorable circumstances, usually begin to 
bloom at about the age of twelve years; and in 
situations, where the wood becomes well ripened, 
they are annually loaded with flowers, making a 
splendid appearance, not only by the large size and 
lively colors of the blossoms, but by the fine, pale 
green of their leaves. The catalpa, however, does 
not seem fitted for the general purposes of ornament, 
as it differs from most other trees by its wide- 
spreading head, disproportioned in size, when com¬ 
pared with the diameter of the trunk, and in the few¬ 
ness of its branches, which are late in putting forth 
leaves in spring, and being among the first to shed 
them on the appearance of frost in the fall. 
The Silver-leaved Maple, or White Maple, as it is 
sometimes called, of late, has become a great fa¬ 
vorite for ornamenting the streets of cities and 
populous towns, for which purpose it would be 
admirably adapted, were it not for the divergent 
character of its branches, and the great height to 
which it arrives at an age of twenty or thirty years. 
The branches are believed to form a head more 
spacious, in proportion to the size of the trunk, than 
almost any other tree ; and instances are on record 
where this species has attained the height of fifty 
feet in twenty-five years. A case in point is now 
before me, in Brooklyn, where the branches of two 
rows of this tree have completely over-arched the 
public way, although they have not yet been plant¬ 
ed fifteen years. There is another objection to this 
tree when grown near houses ; that is, its leaves are 
preyed upon by several species of insects, but to a 
less degree than the linden, the abele, the horse- 
chestnut, and the elm. As an ornamental tree, not¬ 
withstanding these objections, the silver-leaved 
maple is highly prized, on account of the rapidity 
of its growth, the graceful, divergent character of 
its branches, the beauty of its leaves, and the pro¬ 
fusion of its large early fruits, or keys. It is ad¬ 
mirably adapted for large parks as well as open 
lawns, and for lining broad avenues, or public 
highways. Like the weeping willow, with which 
it forms an appropriate associate, it serves an admi¬ 
rable purpose for overspreading artificial ponds, and 
other waters, with a mirror-like surface, where, as 
Michaux expresses it, “the brilliant white of the 
leaves beneath, forms a striking contrast with the 
bright green above, and the alternate reflection of 
the two surfaces, in the water, heightens the beauty 
of this wonderful moving mirror, and aids in form¬ 
ing an enchanting picture.” 
The Red-fiowered Maple, or Soft Maple , as it is 
usually called, from its wide geographical range, 
and great resemblance to its congener, the sugar- 
maple, has long been planted as an ornamental tree 
in all the older States of the Union. It is attacked 
by the same species of insects as the silver-leaved 
maple, its only objection; and whether viewed in 
the beauty of its flowers, in early spring, or ad¬ 
mired for its red fruit, or keys, in the beginning of 
summer, or its crimsoned foliage, in autumn, it de¬ 
serves a place in every situation recommended for 
the sugar-maple; particularly in localities where 
the latter will not grow. 
The American Ash, or White Ash, as it is gene¬ 
rally called, although occupying a greater extent of 
territory than most other trees, has not hitherto 
been much cultivated, either for ornament or other 
use; but, from the rapidity of its growth, the great 
value of its timber, when fully grown in open situa¬ 
tions, and the beauty of its foliage, which is rarely 
attacked by insects, this tree deserves to be exten¬ 
sively planted, in lines for bordering roads, and in 
small groups for ornamenting pastures, parks, and 
the larger class of lawns. 
The Black Walnut, from its wide geographical 
range, and the value attached to its timber and fruit, 
as also for its shade, has been much planted in the 
neighborhood of dwellings, in almost every part of 
the Union. When isolated, in an open space, its 
branches extend in a horizontal direction to a great 
distance, forming a spacious head, and consequently 
an ample shade. Hence this tree can be advanta¬ 
geously substituted for the American elm, for plant¬ 
ing in pastures, in parks and lawns, or along public 
highways. 
The Stag-horn Sumach, in the Northern and 
Middle States, is frequently to be met with in front 
of rural dwellings, where, when trained to a single 
stem, it forms an interesting little tree, and well de¬ 
serves to be cherished, from its large and beautiful 
foliage, its various colors in autumn, and its spikes 
of dark-red fruit, which diversify the scenery of a 
northern winter. But as it is of an open, irregular 
growth, and of not many years’ duration, it should 
