130 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
Avenue 
Trees 
T O get a good avenue of trees the one essential is 
imifonnity, and for each tree as it attains ma¬ 
turity, to show its natural characteristics, in other 
words, for each individual to be a well grown specimen. 
This is rarely accomplished, as accidents will happen to 
the individuals, making gaps, and if the avenue is of 
any length there arc often varying soil conditions and 
exposures which effect the growth. 
There are to be seen, however, very fine avenues in 
various parts of the country, that are almost perfect and 
wonderfully effective. Nothing is quite as imposing as 
a long avenue of well grown trees lining the approach to 
a country seat, or forming vistas giving certain outlooks. 
To insure uniformity it is almost necessary to select 
one of the vigorous and easily transplanted kinds. The 
Silver Maple makes a fine avenue tree until it begins to 
attain age, but unfortunately it is a soft wooded tree, 
easily broken by the storms and one rarely sees finely 
developed avenues of them that have not been either 
marred by ice storms, or have suffered from other causes. 
The Norway Maple is such a compact, round headed' 
tree, but it is not at all imposing even when full grown. 
It also has its objections on account of the dense shade 
and surface rooting qualities, which usually leave an 
unpleasing condition underneath. 
The Oriental Plane, Button Ball as it is called, is per¬ 
haps one of the fastest and most effective of the avenue 
trees. It grows to very boble proportions, and if well 
spaced and properly cared for, it is a tree that seldom 
gives very much trouble. 
The great fault in planting avenues of trees is that they 
arc usually planted too close, the planters being too im¬ 
patient for results. A well grown tree of Oriental Plane 
requires plenty of room for normal development. 50 ft. 
apart should really be a minimum. Very often when 
planted 25 or 30 feet apart they soon interfere with each 
other and become crowded. The accompanying illustra¬ 
tion shoAvs these trees planted possibly 25 years ago, and 
which now form a complete shaded arch over the road, 
used in this manner to form an allee. 
This method of planting them should not be confused 
with the avenue effect where each plant is allowed plenty 
of room for full development. The trees shown in the 
picture are 30 feet apart and have been properly pruned 
and cared for, making a very effective shaded roadway. 
Had these trees been planted much wider apart along 
each side of a drive, so as to allow each individual tree 
room for full development, the effect would have been 
much finer, and the life of the trees very much longer. 
The Oaks make splendid avenue trees. They are not 
popular, however, because they are a little bit difiicult to 
start, and a bit slow to give good effect, but they are 
worth while waiting for. Either Scarlet, Pin or Red 
Oaks are all good subjects, and if too many trees are not 
used in the beginning, and they are all Avell planted so as 
to get an even start, they really do become very effective. 
Another tree that Avould make a fine avenue effect would 
be the Sweet Gum. The writer has known several at¬ 
tempts to establish it in this manner, but due to the dif¬ 
ficulty in transplanting, it has not been very successful. 
Tulip Poplar is also difiicult to establish, but one can 
hardly imagine anything finer than a good avenue of 
stately Tulip Poplars. 
Those who have seen the Horse Chestnuts in Busliv 
Park near Hampton Court, England, when in flower, will 
ajipreciate the wonderful possibilities of proper planting 
and card. These were plantecfbefore 1707 and have been 
intelligently cared for since. What Ave really need in 
this country Avhen planting avenues is to plant them for 
the future rather than the present, Avhich is perhaps the 
great fault in the majority of our planting. 
FIGURES ON THE NURSERY BUSINESS IN TEXAS 
Figures compiled by Louis ,1. Tackett, Chief of the 
Division of Orchard and Nursery Inspection of the Texas 
State Department of Agriculture, shoAv the following: 
Number of acres dcA^oted to nursery stock in 1918— 
2567. Total number fruit trees groA\ni in nurseries— 
5,291,554; shade trees 1,274,401; berry ])lants 3,747,450; 
shrubs 2,138,378; grape vines 560,731; floAA^ering vines 
102,933; nut trees 668,891. Total value of nursery stock 
groAvn in 1918 Avas-$1,138,870. 
The nursery production Avas at its low ebb in 1918 
hence the figures shoAAm above do not represent the nor¬ 
mal production of nursery stock in the state. For sev¬ 
eral years the output of nursery stock has been on the 
decline, but already there is a considerable increase in 
preparation for the groAving of stock over last year, hence 
it may be expected that there aa ill be a greatly increased 
output during the next fcAv years. 
SIZE OF CATALOGUES 
April 2, 1919. 
It may interest you lo have the recent decision of A. M. 
Dockery, 3rd Assistant Postmaster General, AA^ritten to 
the Avriter. 
The circular letter of Post Office Dept, of June 3, 1918, 
suggesting the restriction of the size of eiwelopes to 
4x9 inches is not an order, but simply a suggestion, and 
Mr. Dockery uses these aa ords: 
“Whenever it is practicable to prepare matter so 
that it can be enclosed in an envelope not exceed¬ 
ing 4x9 inches, this should be done.” 
As it is quite impossible for the seedsmen or nursery¬ 
men to limit the size of their catalogs to the dimensions 
above indicated, relief is felt that this circular of June 3. 
1918, is not an order but merely a suggestion. 
It is understood that some local postmasters are hold¬ 
ing this circular of June 3, 1918, to be an order, and if 
any difficulty arises, it is suggested that the local post¬ 
master secure an opinion from Mr. Dockery. 
Yours truly, 
CuuTis Nye Smith. 
