Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-10
olina poplars. For these reasons the plant
| ing of shade trees of this family has been
i
The Approved Varieties.

discontinued.
The Approved Varieties.
Experience has taught the parking COM
mlssion," said Mr.. Saunders. that Of the
many varieties of shade trees that have
been tried upon the streets of Washing
ton, the seven varieties which have best
stood the ordeal of time are the silver
maple, the sugar maple, the American elm,
the American linden, the tulip tree the
sycamore and the Norway maple. More
silver naples are planted than any other
kind, Tor 1t possesses most Of the qualities
required in street tree. 1t is easily prop
agated. Its growth is rapid and the tree is
OF upright habit unless thrown out of its
normal shape by injudicious pruning, which
frequently happens. The foliage is ample.
but rarely SO dense as to prevent a con-
siderable circulation of air through its
comparatively free from insects, and holds
Its own we'll In comparatively poor soil
when once fairly started In its permanent
location.
naples. A trifle less hardy than the silver
maple the sugar maple Is, in my opinion,
the finest of all trees. Finely symmetrical in
contour, 1t has at all times a stately grace
| its popularity Of supporting a massive top
on a comparatively slender stem. For
beauty and density of foliage from early
spring to late summer. for the great va
riety of brilliant tints and shades Of color
| of the ripening leaves in autumn, 1t Is I'M
equaled among trees. 1t is, besides.
clearly tree. not subject to the attacks of
insects. The only trouble with the sugar
maple is that it's massive habit of growth
has tendency to produce too dense shade
| Cor street tree. a fault which We endeav-
or to overcome by constant thinning OF
their branches.
1.-THE American elm Is chiefly employ ed
| for the wide avenues, as 1t requires good
deal of space for its stately growth AS it
attains age and size 1t acquires a certain
degree of picturesque ratification In the
| disposition and general outline Of its
branches, some specimens assuming a
dropping or pendent habit, while others
stretch out freely, forming wide-spreading
| tops. Although We are still planting the
American elm. its reputation has suffered
| q slight impairment within the past two
years, on account of Ats liability to injury
| from singularly voracious leaf-eatins
beetle which then made its appearance in
this city.
Vigorous and Beautiful.
ION the wide avenues in the northwest
| section of the city we also plant consider
| able numbers of the robust and lofty
| spreading American lindens. They require
| a good deal of attention, and. because they
must have good soil and a wide feeding
| range to maintain health and vigor, a good
deal of care is exercised as to where they
| are planted, lest they wither and die upon
| our hands The American lindenS- flowers
! are exceedingly fragrant, end in the dis
| tricts in which they are planted the air is
| heavy with this healthful odor during the
| springtime.
I'VE are devotng a great deal of atten-
| ton to the cultivation of the tulip tree in
| the District nursery. and shall plant great
| mary of them during the next few years.
| They are exceedingly beautiful shade trees.
| with the unique form of their leaves, their
vivid green appearance in spring, their
| yellow cnOrinR
| tulip-like formation Of their flowers. In
| columnar massiveDess, elegance of stem
| and general symmetry of development. tn.
| tulip tree belongs to the prize class OF
| shade trees, pressing the silver maple very
| closely in point OF beauty. But 1t has the
| drawback of being rather difficult to trans
| plant. Its roots are fieshy, and decay upon
| being severed or broken. 1t also demands
| the very best kind of SOIL But the general
| excellence and beauty of the tree is ample
| compensation for the care which its foster
ing requires.
| tic shade tree Of Paris and other European
| Cities is planted occasionally by the park
| ing commission, but it is found to be rather
too large for general use. Its hardines:
| permits of its standing good deal of city
smoke, which is not one of the drawback!
| OF Washington life. AS a lofty tree the syc
amore is somewhat outclassed in this cit!
by tn. American elm and the American
| linden. Sycamo.es are mostly planted her
on the thinly settled suburban streets
1.-The Norway maple we are largely intro
ducing to supplant dead or uprooted tree:
on streets where the shade is so ampI.
that the deprivation for few years OF the
shade Of a single tree is not much Of {
hardship-for the Norway maple Is of SLOW
growth, although when 1t has attained 1t:
full size 1t is an admirable tree"
Too Closely Together.
Besides the varities enumerated by Mr.
Saunders as the best adapted for genera
use, the older streets of the city show
occasional ash-leaved naples, the pyr
amidal Ginkgo, the sweet gum, the flower
clustered horse chestnut, and numerou
kinds of oaks. but it is only rarely tina
trees of these varities are planted along tn
streets in these days.
| Mr.. Saunders says that up to a few year
ago the mistake was made by the commits
sion of planting shade trees too closely to
gether. Notwithstanding his own repeate,
protests against the practice.
"a great number of the main residenc
streets of Washington, and notably lit
street" said he to The Star man, "coul
easily stand the removal of every othe
tree, and yet be amply shaded. On man
Of such streets the shade trees are ofte
|