Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-09
More on Stree, Trees for Texas.


might reasonably expect to derive from
giving to themselves a prominent South
ern appearance through the planting o.
street and yard trees strictly Southern il
point of species; that is, trees to be me-
with only In the lower Southern states
We further urged that, with a view Il
this effect, broad-leaf evergreens be SUBJ
sttUted, SO far as possible, for deciduous
trees, as it is in the winter season that we
have our heaviest run of Northern tour
lists, and our declduous trees are then
bare, thus giving us no advantages
40 far as appearances are con-
cerned, over the regions even
of the extreme North. The broad
leaf evergreen CONVEYS an ida of genial
warmth in winter, while the naked de-
ciduous tree tells tale of nipping frosts
that have caused the leaves to fall. We
recommended the planting of two desir-
able species of evergreen oak easily OBJ
tainable and of extremely rapid growth, ,
and we promised to, in succeeding ar
ticle, point out other Southern broad
leaf eveIgreens that might be procured
witt comparatively little trouble, and
which would evidently do well at Fort
Worth aud at most other localities in the
northern portions of the state. At the
time of that writing we were not think
ing oil SO soon again recurring TO the
same subject, but the interest that our
initial article seems to have awakened
has led us 10 consider it in order for our
second article to appear to-day. The
regular season for planting out trees is
now close upon US, hence the present is
good time for people to enter into the
consideration of what trees it would be
best for them to plant.
AS next on our list to the two beautiful
evergreen oaks recommended by US last
week, we would place the magnolia.
known to botauists as Magnolia grandi-
flora. No description of this grand
Southern tree 10 necessary-everYbod is
supposed TO have seen 1t either in its ma
tive forests east OF US, or in greenhouses
at the North. A Northern person almost
invariably associates any thought or
mention of the South with glossy -Ieaved
and fragrant magnolia groves. Scarcely
a Southern poem or Southern romance
that does not carry the magnolia as
conspicuous feature. The South without
the magnolia would seemed to be robbed
OF half her charms.
While the magnolia is not an indigo
nous tree in Northern Texas, it succeeds
here to perfection when introduced.
There are some fine young trees growing
in Fort Worth and the only reason why
1t is not more common lies in the fact
that it is little inconvenient to get.
Our people seem TO hang q good deal on
convenience in the matter OF street trees,
but they ought not to do SO. Such
tree as the magnolia is not a thing of
only to-day, or for single seasOn-lt is
4 sign set up to stand for a century tell
ing to strangers from the less genial
North of a salubrious climate in u land
of what would be TO them a perpetual
summer.
We find an impression prevailing with
many at Fort Worth to the effect that
the magnolia would not do well here on
account Of our elevated position. In its
native forests, they say, it is always
found growing on low grounds and along
streams. So it is, generally, but this
GENES of the simple fact that the lands
along there are better than on the hills
Transp!anted 70 the highest and dryest
sand hills il, e slightly fertIllzed, does
just as well as it does along the streams.
There may be some points in Fort Worth
where II would not grow TO large tree,
due TO want of soil above the rocks suffi-
cient TO accommodate Its roots, but in
any locality where the soil lies six or
eight feet above the bed -rock it could be |
counted upon for fullest development. |
IL has no tap-root and therefore trans |
plants easily.
No tree with which we are acquainted |
can endure drouth better than the mag |
nolia. On the high drift hills in Ala |
bama We have known some species of |
oak TO succumb in extremely dry sea- |
sons, while magnolias occupying the |
same position went through unscathed. |
Its climatic range is far above us-there |
are large trees growing without protec-
ton at Cairo, Illinois.
The eet bay, smaller species of |
magnolia (Magnolia glanoa) would grow
we'll on the lower portions of Fort Worth,
but we are not entirely sure that it would |
succeed on our highest lands so well as
would the other species. 1t is a most
beautiful title broad-leaf evergreen
with highly fragant foliage. Grows wild
in the same forests with the Magnolia
Would be well worthy of
test.
The true bay of the Eastern Gulf
states (Gordonia lasanthus) would sue
coed well anywhere in Northern Texas,
If started from seed 1t
grows 10 large tree, aud with Its large
evergreen leaves. white on the under
side, it presents an extremely attractive
appearance. 1t is of reasonably rapid
growth, especially while young. Takes
well TO high and dry situations. Its
natural range is about the northern line
Of Tennessee.
A magnificent little evergreen tree
that we think would succeed at Fort
Worth is the red bay (Persea Carolinien-
'is). 1t grows in the same forests with
The other trees foregoingly named, and
attains TO the height of about thirty feet.
Goes by various local names, as bay
gals, sweet bay, Florida mahogany,
inG so on. Its leaves are broad, beau
Iiful and of a light green color; they are
most delieiously fragrant.
Dried and pulverized they enter largely
INTO the Creole cookery about New Or
cans, particularly in the preparation of
,umbos. Takes well TO high lands, and
makes quite rapid growth. Have seen
t growing we'll at Montgomery, Ala. on
ands geologically the same as ours. The {
attitude and Isothermal OF Montgomery
S above that of Fort Worth.
Another very pretty little broad-leaf
vergreen, native to the eastern pulf