The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-09

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Letter from Mr.. E@~sow % he Mayor Of Boston,
Hon. B. SEAvsa-Dsar Sir: Az you reaacste,
me, when last had the pleasure Of converting Will
you, to give you list OF the trees thought mos
suitable for planting the squares and streets II
the city, hasten to send you the names of q few
with the reasons for preferrfng Thorn to others.
shalt give them In the fewest words possible.
The trees we We MT should be-
l. Hardy. suited TO our climate and likely I.
stand for many years aH
2. Clean and fragrant, or at least sweet. such a
all persons would Nike to have near them.
3. Umbrageous, furnishing abundant shade ane
holding the foliage long.
(. Beautiful or picturesque In shape, in the color
and form Of their and in the color OF the foil
The trecs now commonly cultivated are the Anne
rican Elm, which IL tho most graceful of trees but
liable 20 the objection that il oscs is foliage very
early In the autumn, and that the leaves. before
they fail, are not very rich in color.
The English Em--of stately and noble shape
and rich and abundant foliage, which continues on
some weeks after that Of the American has fallen.
this il true of nearly all foreign trees The exqui
site colors of the autumnal foliage almost pc.
culiar to American trees.
A European Linden. a tree valuable for the great
depth of lite shade, for holding its leaves very long
and for the sweetness of s flowers, but rather for.
NAL and monotonous.
OF all these trees we have great abundance
They are most valuable; but we ought to have 9th.
tiful.
OF native oaks, we have in our neighborhood four
species OF great beauty, and which become large,
stately, and durable trees These are
The Scarlet Oak, the most beautiful of oaks;
The Red Oak, with large and brilliant leaves q
most rapid grower;
The White Oak; and ga
The Chestnut Oak. kf l'@@,
All these unite all the most valuable qualities,
and, IL planted now, they will be growing better
for a thousand years
English Oak, is proved TO be perfectly hardy in
our climates, and of rapid growth. This is one Of
the nobest of trees. If inferior any of oaks.
1t is only in the brilliancy OF tho leaves and the
richness OF their colors in autumn.
OF Naples, we have the Rock Maple, or Sugar
Maple, the finest trees OF its family, and unite in
the highest degree all the most desirable qualities
OF a tree There are some fine young trees of this
kind now growing on the Common, to speak for
The Red Maple or Scarlet Maple, inferior only
in color, very rapid in growth, and with finely cut
the Sycamore or False Plane Tree, European
Maple, which 10 hardy and caste deep shade, but
wants the brilliancy Of colors OF the two first spe
ces Some OF all these are to be seen now grow
ing on the Common, or elsewhere within the
The Beach has finer trunk than any Of these
trees and would be valuable addition to our forest
trees. '.' 2, 4'
OF Native Birches of the most perfect grace and
beauty, we have three species:
The White or Canoe Birch; ft '@tE-
The Black or Fragrant Birch; and s7f -
The Yellow Birch, which attain the size of large
timber trees II they somewhat deficient in
density Of foiiage they make up for it in delicacy
and in the great beauty of their blossoms in the
early spring.
growth, and Of the greatest value in every respect
The Tulip tree is one of tho most remar kable
trees of temperate regions. few specimens
now fourishing on the Common. In every stage
it is very beautiful. 80, -, -ass y
The Saseafras tree often grows to q respectable
size. II is hardy and fragrant has fine leaves and
beautiful fruit, and the colors in autumn very
rich.
Tho Tupelo tree has peculiar horizontal branch.
es, and is remarkable for leaves of greater bril-
lancy of color than any other tree of our woods.
Unfortunately the leaves fall very early.
or Evergreens, we have two growing naturally
In our immediate neighborhood, of infinitely more
beauty than those that are more commonly Guilt
waited; these are the Hemlock and the White Pine.
Nearly oil these trees may be found in the nur
series in our neighborhood or on Long Island. All
OF them may be found rowing in q state of nature
abundanty within few miles of Boston.
There are two or three species of the Ash tree,
particularly the Black Ash and the White Ash,
which deserve 70 be cultivated. They have been,
indeed, much planted, and are acknowledged 10
be very desirable trees Some specimens Of the
White Ash may be found already growing per-
fectly well within the city, that there is no fear
Of their hs,,d not .ai being i hardy
but that they require peculiar treatment in the
nursery. without which it 10 almost hopeless to
transplant them. f 4s rt
did not mean to trespass 80 far upon your time,
but could not say what had to say in fewer
words. I,
Very respectfully, yours,
$1,000 @ GEO b. EMERsoN.
BosToN, October Is, 1852. ..-s.