The herald., 1895-07-20
SOME TREES FOR SHADE AND BEATTY

! coHhe universal faVorlte. Its flrm. erect
| trunk. we'll shaped top. and glossy
dust-resisting foliage are characteristics
that should not be overlooked. 1t stands
the drouth better than the blue gum.
| but unfortunately gophers are more fond
| OF It's roots. Whatever you plant, keen
III mind this mischevous rodent. Gopher
traps and squirrel poison are the prose
pas ssages of poetical tree planting.
An exceedingly handsome and in every
| way desirable street tree is very rare
one. as by diligent search could find but
| 20 III the market. A gentleman who knew
II IN Australia gives the name cue.
| geyseri. 1t is a rapid and symmetrical
grower. has bright. dark-green foliage
and the new growth is a brilliant red
lt is said to produce white blossoms.
lhe sun shining through it's red-tIpped
Draht hes gives The tree an appearance OF
name. Another very similar in habit.
except that the new growth is a reddish
Drown. has been given the name of cue.
robusta. This is also rare with us.
Through the courte ~ of Mr.. Lyon, state
forester. four years ago | was presented
with several choice varieties of the euca-
lyptus family, which last season pro-
duced an abundance of gorgeous blossoms.
The red Towering ficifolia. one of the
most snowy trees when covered with its
huge clusters of scarlet flowers. is bet
Ter adapted to the grounds than the side
walk. 1t does not grow as rapidly as the
sugar gum and promises to be an under
sized tree. The seed vessels are so large
end heavy that every branch weighed
down with them requires propping to
prevent breaking. Bet for an ornamental
tree never saw anything surpass it.
Inc same objection to another of the eu-
calyptus family bearing huge clusters of
yellow blossoms. may be made. When in
bloom. like the icifolia, it is an object of
universal admiration and for an orna-
mPntal Shonlh pnsib1o bo
cured. New varieties of the eucalyptus
are constantly being introduced. and all
tree lovers should obtian as many Kinds
as possible, and test their good qualities
before planting them on the streets.
The tree that attracts the attention of
eastern tourists and Southern Cali
fornia is famed for its hospltable desire
to please the strangers who visit us-is the
much abused pepper. Even old residents.
common as it has become. admit tina. it
is thing of beauty and certainly to
our chickens and stock it is ''joy for
ever. Its broad spreading, graceful
branches, glossy foliage, delicate blossoms
and scarlet berries. are source OF never
ceasing delight to newcomer. 1t is
Child of the south our own exclusive tree;
let us plant it by the roadside, train and
trlm 1t properly. and in few years the
exclamations of delight from strangers
Will repay us. We all know the thieyish
propensities of the peppers roots, hut it
IS an easy matter to place them beyond
harming other shrubs and trees. | have
seen poor little pepper trees trimmed to
the very top, leaving only small tuft of
leaves, the plaything of the wind. De-
nuded CT its foliage, discouraged by its in
human treatment. they have proved them
selves so disagreeable and unsightly that
their owners have destroyed them root
and branch and then sent up wall
against the miserable, "scrubby pepper
tree. The cypress should be planted
sparingly on the streets. as there are so
many trees that serve the purpose bet er.
Its pyramdal form excludes it from the
list of shade trees, and its capacity for
catching and retaining dust gives it an
unsightly appearance through the sum.
mer, when we need most verdure and
shade. But it IS u magnificent giant when
serves the purpose of hedge making as no
other tree can. As an example of what
the cypress may beome under ordinary
conditions, fine specimen may be seen
in the grounds of f. A. Kim bail at Ma
tional CITY. 1t has spread of branches
OF seventy feet. three feet in diameter and
probably forty feet high. 1t was planted
in 1869 and was II Ut more than six inches
high.
The eravilla robusta is one of the most
desirable trees for this latitude. 1t is
somewhat untidy during the PERIOD of
leaf shedding. but the rare beauty of its
gorgeous, orange-bued. coral-like clusters
and its fancy-shaped leaves. make il an
object of special interest. | planted 400
and nave not lost one, and that. too, dur
ing the two driest OF many years.
Although the palm, like the cypress, is
not strictly shade tree. it is. like the
pepper. the delight of fasteners. and
always the glory OF Southern California
vegetation. We never weary of its mag
nificence, nor cease to wonder at its mani
fold uses. 1t is a fine tree for railroad
street, AS one of denser and lower foliage
shuts Off the view Of passing trains. and
is often the cause of serious accidents.
There are in this part of the state MANY
beautiful avenues OF palms, Orange ave-
nue. at Coronado being striking example
of the telling effect of these children OF
the tropics on the minds OF the visitors
from the north. BY all means plant palms
som ewhere-on the street if desirable
elsewhere if not. There is such a variety
to choose from that the puzzle will be
which to select.
Another favorite, the camphor laurel, |
would unhesitatingly recommend. | have
an individual tree that in eight years has
attained height of nearly forty feet. 1t
has stout, erect trunk, not easily sway
ed by the wind. Its foliage Is bright and
glossy, the new growth PINK tinted. and
SC fai neither gopher nor squirrel has
molested one of the hundred L have
planted.
What not to plant is equally rs import
ant to know as what to plant. The olive
| would relegate to the olive orchard, both
because 1T is an economic tree and we do
not want the spectacle of orchards over
lapping the sidewalk, and because in coast
towns it is subject to black smut that
everything about it.
The acacia, so pleasing in its early
years. would discard altogether. 1t |
does not fulfill the promise of it's youth. |
AS ii advances in years its foliage becomes
thin and is a harbor for the black SCALE
The China tree, called also the Texas |
um brella. is beautiful In summer. bat
gaunt skeleton in winter and should be |
planted in some nook not better appro. |
priated. | have seen lemeon, orange and |
apricot trees on the sidewalk and won
dered at the taste and Judgment of him |
who put them there. Orchards and flower |
gardens are sadly ont of place on the |
street.
Setting expense aside. the magnolia |
and rubber are unexcelled for beauty. The |
is very hardy. but the rubber, |
in valleys or where the action of frost |
may be anticipated, should be planted
with caution.
We OF the coast towns are greatly in /
need of a tree that will flourish in saline |
soil. or land that has been overodwed by |
tide water.
Through the courtesy of Mr.. Wood, Ha-
waiian consul, l am in possession of seeds i
Of trees that in the islands grow to the |
waters edge, which may in measure |
solve the question of what to plant near
the hay.
Tho uoo1 affact Of ,1opt;,,. +,oa, .o,,,a4