New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-14
NORTH AMERICAN TREES.
Mr.. sAR0ENT'S GREAT WORK.

the which naturally n NSr'e p MmS
s sa eSeui illustrated al xS figures and
drawn IRON nature by Charles Edward Faxon' ans ana
N. Rosaccac, Saxifiaeaccae. Large quar'"'
Up. l4l; plates, so. Houghton' MINI" W."
Boston and Ncw-iors.
All the trees described in the fourth volume OF
this work belong to the great Rose family wi'h
the single exception Of the LyonothamnuS, which
was discovered half-dozen years ago on the
little island Of Santa Catalina of the coast of Cali
forna. by William s. Lyon, after whom the
spcccs was named The tree is only known to
cvist on the two islands Of Santa Cruz and Santa
Catalina. II belongs TO the Saxfragc family, ana
ia the only North American representative OF this
order which reaches the size and habit OF a tree
L. is n handsome plant The beauty Of its multi
form persistent leaves. and the ample size and
abundance of its clustered flowers will give 1t
value as an ornament in the gardens OF all
temperate countries where il will thrive. To the
family known to botanists as the ROsaccae be-
long large proportion of the fruits in our orchards
and gardens and it also includes many trees whose
foliage and flowers and habit give them high
ornamental value. Long ago Loudon spoke OF
the Importance Of the Rosaceac in landscape plant
ing, and called attention to the fact that most OF
the trees were comparatively small, but OF CON-
pact shape and they attained maturity at an
full, since their size makes small place appear
large and their rapid growth soon gives look OF
age to a new place The number of these trees
described in this volume makes it more interesting
from horticultural point of view than any OF the
series so far published OF the whole list described
and figured in Volume " only one can strictly
Re called timber tree. This is the wild black
cherr- lfrunus serotina), sometimes also called
the rum cherry from the fact that its ripe fruit
is used domcsticaly to flavor alcoholic liquors
It ranges through all the Appalachian region from
Nova Scotia 70 Florida. and extends westward to
Dakota and .hc Indian Territory, and southwark
as far as Peru. II is one Of the most valuable
trees in all our forests for timber account Of
the close straight grain Of its wood and its satiny
surface, which receives beautiful polish. II has
q tall. massive trunk. lustrous foliage, abundant
and graceful inioresence and handsome fruit. and
is one of the most beautiful and stately trees in
our eastern woods. Its hardness and its ability
10 flourish under varied climatic conditions and
on poor soils together with its rapdity Of growth
and the value of its timber, commends it to all
the Planters of forests.
The genus Prunus to which the wild cherry
belongs includes pums. almonds, peaches and
aprcots, and is represented by rather more than
dozen species in America, and there are 100
species scattered through the temperate regions
CT the Northern hemisphere. OF the true plnms
there are now at least 800 varieties in European
collections, where the trees have been planted
throughout all historic time. Apricots have been
cultivated since the Christian era, and peaches
have been grown in China from time m'nemorial.
while the cherry has been grown in Europe for
at least two centuries Many species Of Prunus
ere common in gardens. where they rank high Tor
fhe beauty of their flowers and foliage. Among
Al form IF fho
plum with double flowers: the English laurel and
the Portugal laurel which replaced in the
United States by Prunus Carolinana, locally
known as the wild orange. In Japan Prunus
hume and Prunus pseudo-cerasus have deeper
hold on the affections Of the people than any
other Towering plants In fact, no Japan home
IL without them. When spring is announced by
the opening of the red and white flowers on the
lcafess branches of the first named there IS time
CT universal rejoicing, while the blossomlns OF
the second species invites the people to another
fcral festival.
Among North American species Of Prunus the
first one figured is the red plum IF. nsra), often
planted in Canadian gardens. The common wild
plum IT, Amercanal is beautiful ornamental
tree with long, wandlike branches which form
spreading head 1t is covered in spring with
masses of clear white blossoms, and in summer
with bright foliage and snowy fruit 1t Is
more beautiful plant than the Canada plum. al
though it is not so generally planted for ornament
Another wild plum Prunus hOrtulana). which Is
found in the Mississippi Valley, is the parent OF
the well-known Wild Goose plum. The Chickasaw
plum Prunus angustifoia) is probably Southern
srecies whose original home is still uncertain III
il was a species brought from distance oy the
Indians it certainly has escaped from cultiva-
ton generally for il is now scattered
throughout the Southern States. The Soe Prunus
Alleahemens,s) is only found in small section OF
Pennsylvania II is an ornamental shrub or small
tree and altogether desirable for cultivation, ooth
for lis flowers and fruit. which no doubt could be
greatly improved by selection. Then there is a
Western species U'runus sub-cordata) found in the
region west of the Cascade or Sierra Nevada
mountains from Southern Oregon to Central Call
fornia. The Black Sloe tPrunus umbcllata) Is
another Southern tree. which in early spring makes
most attractive and conspicuous feature OF the
coast region of Georgia and Florida by its profu-
sion Of white flowers. Prunus Pennsylvania. the
bird cherry is the next on the list rapidly grow
ing and handsome though short-lved tree Prunus
marginata is still another wild cherry. which in
habits the extreme northwestern portion OF the
country. II is grown as shade tree in Portland,
Ore where il sometimes attains height OF forty
feet Our common choke cherry 'Prunus VIZ
einana) is continental in its distribution, grow
ing within the Arctic circle from Labrador TO the
Mackenzie River and TO the Pacific coast IN Bit
ish America. II reaches southwark to Georgia.
Texas and Mexico In our Eastern states IL Is
usually a large trcelike shrub, but IN the rich
valleys Of Southern Oregon it attains large size
and true arborescent habit
A favorte garden plant in the Southern States
Is the evergreen Prunus Caroliniana. the wild or
mock orange, whose beautiful foliage, early and
abundant flowers and rapid growth has COM
mended it TO planters from the earliest times IL
is used to decorate not only the neighborhood OF
dwellings, but to form hedges, for which purpose
IL il well adapted by its rich leaves and its power
to withstand the effect OF much pruning Still
another evergreen species is Prunus sphaerocarpa'