The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-02-23
AVENUES OF ORANGE TREES.
Why Should Not This be the Rule in
Sacramento?
Unsiehtly Poplars. Cork Elms and
sycamores Ought to Give Way
to Rows of Orange Trees.

Those who have experimental with the
ordinary kinds of shade trees for our
sidewalks must admit that there are
serious objections to all Of them. They
grow to such enormous proportions as
to obscure residences and shut out the
health-giving sunlight. Then they
drop their leaves every fall, and for
two or three months the sidewalks and
front yards are kept covered Herewith,
greatly to the annoyance of househeepers
and unsightly to all who have taste for
cleanliness.
Many citizens have found it necessary
to entirely remove their old shade trees
and replace them with others, chiefly the
sour orange. Wherever these have been
planted they have done well, and if more
generally used the streets would be
greatly improved. A correspondent,
who has given considerable attention to
the subject, writes as follows:
mo tree makes more beautiful street
or avenue tree than does the Florida sour
orange. 1t is of beautiful shape natural
ly, and is strong, vigorous grower,
much more SO than any sweet orange. 1t
is very hardy and long-lived, and will re-
tain its Vigor and beauty for from two to
four centuries; and the older it gets the
more beautiful it becomes. Many shade
trees look handsome for few years, but as
they grow older become an eyesore. Not
so with this elegant tree. 1t has a DARK,
rich, glossy green foliage, and, being an
evergreen, retains It's beauty the year
round. 1t bears q medium-sized and
very handsome orange, which will hang
on the tree for eight or ten months of
the year; in fact, the tree has oranges on
look very tempting, not even 'Peck's Bad
Boy would ever try to eat more than one
OF them, as they are sour, bitter and
astringent all at the same time. So there
need be no fear of the tree being mo-
Tested for its fruit.
What a beautiful appearance would
our towns and cities present especially
TO the eyes Of the Eastern yisitors) if our
sidewalks were lined with these beautiful
trees, laden with the handsome, golden
frull Were the streets of Sacramento thus
ornamented, the tourist and capitalist
would at once become enchanted and de-
eide to look no further, but to buy him a
home and spend his days land his money!
With us; so that the trees would be not
only a source of beauty and pleasure, but
at the same time source of profit. They
would add millions to the value of our
property and would attract people of
culture and refinement.
Now, when we can get tree possess
ing all these qualities for about the same
money that we would pay for an ordi-
nary shade tree, why should we buy the
unsightly deciduous tree that i'll a few
years will become nuisance and have
TO be removed? There need be no fear
OF their not succeeding anywhere in our
valleys and foothills, as they are per-
tectiy hardy and have been thor
oughly tested in nearly all the different
kinds of soil and climates that we have,
and have invariably proven a success.
There are many beautiful specimens
in Sacramento, and we should plant
nothing else for street trees. If we would
Go this we would have the most beautiful
city on the coast, and would double our
population and wealth in a short time"