NEIGHBORING IMPROVEMENTS. 
69 
many of them have not a cheerful expression in winter. The wil¬ 
lows generally have thin leaves, which rot where they fall, and 
therefore make the walks filthy under them in autumn. The pop¬ 
lars all have blossoms, or cottony seeds, that are annoying. 
Among the foreign maples, the Norway and the sycamore maples 
are well adapted to street planting, but not superior to the sugar 
maple. If we were to name six species of trees to choose from for 
the street, they would be the American weeping elm, the Scotch or 
Wych elm, the horse-chestnut, the sugar, Norway, or sycamore ma¬ 
ples, the weeping white birch, and, in light, warm soils, the white 
pine,. 
Charming effects may be produced by planting such trees as 
the weeping birch at long intervals, to break the monotony of 
heavier formed trees by the delicate sprightliness of their foliage in 
summer, and their brilliant white-barked spray when the trees are 
leafless. We know no reason why several varieties of .the birch 
would not make admirable avenues for streets which are too nar¬ 
row for elms, and in which maples and chestnuts make too deep a 
shade. 
In conclusion, we will venture to suggest an innovation for 
town streets which are occupied for residences alone, and upon 
which there is little travel in vehicles. The roadway on such 
streets is often needlessly wide, and trees planted on the sidewalk 
on both sides of the road, expand their tops so as to obstruct a 
view of the street, and so close to the house that their beauty can¬ 
not be seen. It is recommended that such streets have but one 
row of trees, and that in the middle of the road, where a strip of 
grass, six feet wide or more, would give them a pleasing setting. 
As this width of grass cannot be spared from many town side¬ 
walks, but can be from the roadways, the plan may occasionally be 
used to advantage. 
