The morning call., 1890-05-04
SAN FRANCISCO
STREET TREES.
The Kinds That May BE Planted
on the p eninsula.
From the Fresidio South = Possibilities of
Garden Growth-Terraces and Hill
Plantations.

EAT used to be said OF San f rancisco that MOTH
Ag ing but scrub oaks and wild mallows would
EK grow upon the drifting sand-hills. Even now
few persons are aware OF the enormous va
riety of tree growth to be found in the garden.
OF the peninsula. Camelliss, fucbsas and other
shrubs of immense SIZE worth photographng
aud describing, are in the old gardens. Magni6-
cent trees of Magnolia grandifiora, in bloom
every year. palms, dracenas and Abysslnian ba.
nanas one sees and admlres. In the course of
time there Will be very famous plants and trees
growing In some OF the private grounds, but
there Is as yet lille tendency TO plant desirable
street trees.
Now San Francisco Is almost alone among
American cities In tile possible development OF
deeiduons tree and vine planting. Not ever
greens, mind, for we need all the wiG,s: sunlight
we can obtain; 1t is life and health, and it brings
the winter tourist. But, as We want the leafiess
bouehs along our hill slopes i'll winter, SO also we
want the broad leaves for shelter and beauty all
summer. The eucalyptus and acacia, beautiful
th ough The latter is for a brief golden hour" in
spring, are MOL the coming street trees of San
Francisco.
Our native confers, such as the redwood
and the noble cedars, frs, spruces expresses and
pines that grow near the coast, and are eminently
adapted 10 the sand hills, are not street trees
their place-and it is a large one-is as single
trees on private grounds or in gardens, In groups
in parks, and as tail wind breaKs, when ground
can he spared for that. There are many long
slopes and heights OF Ihe Preside that ought TO
be planted as soon as possible with forest
masses of LbIocedrus decurrens, Lawson
cypr ess,. Monterey pine, redwood, Douglas
spruce, Monterey cypress, and the neglected but
magnificent toIreya of san Luis Obispo. Masses
OF such trees as these ought 10 crown the hill
tops and the high points Of sea-cffs along the
Pacific from the Preside 10 the Golden Gate
Park. Most of all, great tree-groups south OF
the park, and even ON the rugged slopes OF the
Twin Peaks ought TO be planted, so as TO make
forests 10 SneItcI the long Open SWeen of Market
and the other streets that run toward the bay.
For these uses, the native California coniiers OF
the coast range are unequaled. We need not
seek abroad for any other coDlfers OF greater or
even OF equal value grace or strength. But for
the street. The planting we should do lies in the
direction Of declduOuS trees.
THE RANGE.
Nor Is the range small. We may plant native
trees OF rare vitality, rapid growth and great
beauty. The California soft maple grows in
wooded canyons that slope down TO the Pacific
and gather up all the winds and fOgs OF The wear
The California black walnut VIII stand ON the
very sea-cif. The California sycamore also will
thllve In sand near the sea. The Oregon ash is
another hardy and rapid erowing tree, well fitted
for street planting. The cork. bark elm is TO BE
seen IN San Francisco streets now, and SO is the
common locust. All the willows thrive not only
the weeping species, but also the curl-leaf" The
yeilow-barked and other ornamental sorts
list OF ttty notable trees emnenty
fit for street planting and successful
In San Francisco could probably be compiled
from the results of actual experiments made az
white locust thEiyes so Will tile honey locust and
the rare ana beautiful pink-fiowered species
A hDe tree, the Koreuteria panlculata. known as
Inc bladder tree" grows well in San Francisco,
Ii has elegant compound and cut leaves, red at
first unfolding, ana the masses OF red pods are
very attractive. 1t would suit exactly for a
small sill eet tree. The umbrella tree /" of the
South is TO he seen In a few places ia San Fran
cisco. The Eastern black walnut and butter
nut have been grown with entire success Tire
wild cherry OF The Atlantic States Ihrves so
does tie eaiapa. But the California maple
promises about as good results as any other de-
clduous Tree In the country.
There Is story going the rounds about Ger.
man in Philadelphia who owned a house. but no
garden space. He pried up a paving stone
to ihe root and there II spread out over a wide
trellls, where 1t bore 'oads of erapes" Here
he aud his friends could sit under their own vine
ana Tile place has become famous. Some sta
tlstical crank then figured out that IL every
housetop In Philadelphia and New York could be
used In this way those cities would have grapes
10 send abroad. BE that as IL may be, there are
certainly many vines and even some sorts of
grape vines which Will thrive In San francisco.
, me curious and beautiful Akebia .quinata, or
chocolate yine," from Japan, and the superb
ed-howered trumpet creeper OF the South can be
trained on a southern wall or treS, so can
many OF the best oses, jasmiues and other vines
There are many fine illustrations I'm San Fran
cisco gardens of the fact that it is not necessary
TO depend upon ivles and "Australian vines"
AS lor grapes, the isaDellas Conc0rdS and Clin-
tons have been grown this coast in many
places near the sea- that II is likely that they
WOuiu Thrive ana pear good lfult III san III an
cisco, though do mol now remember of having
heard OF any attempt In that direction.
Apples, pears, peaches, apricOIs cherries and
plums grown in San Francisco gardens have be-
shown at various hOrticull ural fairs. / have my
self seen small oranges aud lemons on trees, In
sheltered hooks, on southern slopes Some OF
the old RiDeon Hill gardens showed very wide
range In respect Of species Of trees and plants
grown. The southern Slope OF this hill had some
peculiarly warm hOllows where gardens that diff
fered IN few particulars from the present gar
oens of Alameda, Oakland ana Berkeley were
once to be found. In the late hftes and sixties,
Mayor Selby, on one side Of Harrison street.
and DIR. j. W. CLARK on the other, had
rose gardens that were maryels, comprising all
the best sorts IN cultivation at that day. IL was
great time for Carnations, dablias, fuchsias
helOlrOpes aud brilliant garden ANNALS of the
old-fashioned so3ts, which were carefully bedded
out ages before the era of ribbon gardening"
Away out 10 the - Mission warm belt" there
were beautiful gardens then, as there are now
aud many, once iamons have given way TO the
march of the house builder. But 10 sum IN the
floral side OF The garden subject: In San Fran
cisco one eau have only a moderate range OF spe-
eies, but within that range high degree OF sue
cess IS practicable.
STREET TREE PROBLEM.
Returning to The stieet-tree problem | have
often wondered why some OF the newer residence