Evening star., 1869-08-10
SHADE TREES.
HINTS ron STREET PLANTING

What o.s little: Tree sAsaid Haye-Li.,,
Affecting Health-Sugae estisn fer Plant.
ing FeAnsylvNnia avenue, &c.
Among the papers submitted to the Board o.
Ald'rman last evening was one OF an uuus u.lly
interesting char acter, In reference 70 the sub.
1hct OF shade trees suitable for street planting
Alderman Connolly addressed a letter to the
Conmissioner Of Agricu culture, asking Informs.
ton on the subject, which letter was referred
to Mr. Saunders, the eficient Saperinle lends Of
OF the Grounds OF the Department. ana ht, re.
port thereon was forwarded to Alderman Cor.
noilY, who submitted 1t to the Board last even.
ing, wnen 1t was ordered to be printed ON thx
Journal In view Of the importance OF ths
subject and the value of the information tar.
nlshed, we lay the report before our readers iu
full, as follows
OFFICE OF SuPERINrRNDENr OF 9ARn.x
AND GROUNDS, Department Of Agriculture
washington ID. O.. Aug. 4, 1sss.-Hon. Horoc.
capron, commissioner Of Agricxltre-Dear Sir
Accompanying this please find remarks in
answer to the letter OF T.. q. Gem oily, Esc
OF tne Board OF Aldermen OF this city, which
was referred to me, asking FOR aa catai oeue of
trees suited for street planting, syiA hrief De.
scriptions and remarks; also itst of such "a
dement's" " ei
The principle qualities tha: a tree shou,d
possess to render II suitable for street nIsntinS
are the following:
LIST. compact stateliness and symmetrv NJ
growtn, as DISTINGUISHED from wide spread.
ing or pendant form, so that che s,em NAV
reach sumcient height to allow of n free cir
cuiation Of air fellow the branches.
80; "a: AN ample supply Of expansive foliage,
oI early spriug verdure, and rich and
varied in the eolors and tints assumed durine
tne rlpenlne OF the leaves In aatumn
80. Aeaitninees so far as being exempt from
eohsntutionai diseases, as we'll as from those
maiadies frequently engenderec in some spe.
Grer, oy pecularity OF soils and atmospheric
4th. Cleanliness; characterized nv a n.r.,s,
eney OF foliage daring summer, freedom from
Iading flowers, and exemption from the attacks
5th. 1t should be easily transplanted. of uod.
erately vigorous grown, and not liable To
throw up shoots from the roots or lower nor.
tlon OF the stem tree OF extremely rsniA
growth is generally short-lived, and should bs
9th. The branches should be elastic ra,ssr
tnan brittle, that they may the better withstand
ey neavy storms; and lastly, there should be no
onensiVe 0dors from flowers or foliage
While it is perhaps impossible to procure a
tree possessing all of these qualifications, we
can select those species that make the nearest
appLSoacn ,S 10 peIiecuon' OF which the following
l. Silver Maple, Acer dasycarpum. This is
very appropriately held in high estimation for
n no
qualities required 1t is Of rapid growth ~
upright form,-unless thrown out of It's normal
shape by nIudicious pruning foliage annie.
q. Tue same ume not SO dense as to prevent a
parual circulation OF air, which Is much pre
ferable TO dense impenetrable mass of foIises
near buildings. Neither is il subject 10 fhs
al a,tschs OK insects, and it has the further merit
OF oeihg enesply propagSted.
sugar maple, Acer Szcchdrinum. This is
the most beautiful Of all the naples; indeed
lnsre are ont few trees of any kind that can
/ etafo olr
porting massive head of foliage on a csmnaP-
atively slender stem, imparte a great degree Of
The superb color OF the foliage during autnmn
oer;nd r1eIs 90 Conspicuous. .frfe aREnrsashc:
re ee..,Ua ~. ,rA pteceding, and equally valuable
IN every respect.
l. American Linden, Tilid Ameriezna. A well /
known native tree OF lofty and robust growth, l
we'll fitted for wlde streets and avenues, affect
ing the suburbs rather than a crowded city. 1t /
IS possessed of a wealth of foliage, and fragrant
4 lowers, grows readily after removal, and Of /
c'ea My habits. It's European congener, Iilfd /
Europa is also fine tree, but Of late years has
been much injured by y1nsects.
5. Tulip Poplar, Liriodendron Tnliptferd, or
tulip tree, is one OF the most unique and beau
tiful trees Of the forest. None others can sur
It's flowers in early summer. Tne leaves
change to bright yellow tnge during fall and /
are very attractive at that season. No other L
tree will harmonic SO well, or be in better i
keeping with the public buildings in this city. |
It's tall coIumnar stem and majestic growth |
specially indicate its availability for decorat-
ing the vicinity OF large buildings and broad |
This tree is rather impatient OF removal,
and is consequently rather difficult to trans
plant, if treated in the ordinary mode; but |
there Is NO dimculty in preparing young trees
for successful removal, so that this direction
is easily overcome. |
6. American Elm, linus Americana. The
elm has been so commonly planted that in
some sections Of the country street, tree, and
elm are synonymous terms. Its repute has
been greatly impaired on account of destruc-
are not equally subject 70 these dsstroyers,
neither are all seasons alike favorable to their
increase. The great beauty Of this fine tree
and its rapid, towering growth are recon-.
mendations for wide streets.
Z. American Ash, Frdrinus Americana. A
fine tree, of erect growth and expansive top.
OF lghtness, which, combined with massive
shade, gives the plant quite q distinctive char
acter. 1t is easily transplanted, growing freely
after removal, even although Of considerable
age and size.
g. Horse.chesnut, 1Esculus Hppoca stanum.
The horse.chesnut is a well known heavy
foliaged tree, surprising most others in the
flowers are also conspicuous objects. The
compact, dense form OF growth causes q dense
shade, and in consequence 1t should not be
thin. graveIy or sandy soils it Iapses into a
brown study during dry summers, but is
and rich. r0r.-
These comprise the best of list that might
be considerably extended, and are probably
SUFFICIENT for all practical purposes. In plant.
ing line Of trees on street or straight avenue,
1t is in best taste TO con1ne them to one species
or kind. Variety in this connection only tends
TO confusion. The beauty Of grandeur that is
produced by continuity and repetition OF the
same objects, Is Destroyed BY Introducing Q
mixture OF varieties, and is as much at variance
with good TASTE g would ~ mixture Of orders
In the columns OF q binding. I.c
To enumefate all the trees thet should Be
rejected would involve an extensive cata-
loeue. There are, however, two trees quite
common In this city that are not worthy Of
the positiens they occupy; these are the white
poplar and the aiianthus. = '-v.f g
The white poplar Popalas aibs) 10 the most
common and the least worthy. It's only recon-
mendations are easy remoy ana rapid Erowth,
ns: 1s q roc seS g. .s:1
broken, and, in copseqqence, we see but few
trees OF this speetes retsia tAsif psrpsndicplar
when Of any size. Il haS AiDo most invefe.
rata habit OF sending mp shoots from all por.
tions Of the roots, even Aking advautaee OF
the small opportunities Afforded BY the joints
in payemente, and, thus dl.arr.nginE aud
damaging stde0alks and streets ltis further
q very obnoxious tree IN its flowers, as may 10
experienced hete - spring when. the doWny
particles hll The iair, hurthl 70 the eyes. and
not without injury TO- the lupGs OF all who
have TO breathe the. necculeEt mixture The
toleration Of this tsee In puolio grounds anc
streets il one Of those strange anomalies occa-
sional!y encountered b clyniEedl lcommantues
The Ailanthus. AiastASs alandxlosa, some.
times called .Treeot Hsavea," (although mot
redolent Of atrs.) u native Of the FlSwery
KINGDOM, and uuun unisukably rejects It's ortep.