The San Francisco call., 1896-06-21
A new ORNAMENTAL
TREE FOR CALIFORNIA.
It Is a Near Relative to the
American Sycamore.
Tested at the State University Sta
tions-Cheap, Healthy, Hardy
and Quick in Growing.

Many letters, and at all seasons of the
wear, come to me and Others who are sup
posed to know something about trees, ask
ing for information upon cheap, healthy,
hardy and rapid growing species for ave
nues aud ornament. These questions
are more oft-n asked in summer than in
winter, for it is in summer that the need OF
shade is more felt.
There are certainly hundreds OF desirable
species of trees fit for the general planter.
But propose in this article to name and
describe one particularly useful and long
neglected deciduous tree which the aver
age landowner is justified in planting for
quick returns in solid satisfaction. In
order to avoid any misunderstanding, L
Will say to begin with that the Oriental
plane (Platanus orientalis) is near rela-
tive of the American sycamore. Never
theless, for the purposes indicated IN this
article, it is far superior to that tree and
should not be despised because its poor re-
lation is already in our canyons. 1t is,
perhaps, unfortunate that IL has been in
troduced under the name of European
sycamore instead of its ancient title OF
plane. While "only sycamore, 1t is
undoubtedly the best and most handsome
species of that family.
Californians who have been in the lead
ing cities OF Europe cannot have failed to
observe the tall, stately specimens of plane
trees in London, Paris, Brussels, Vi
emma, Milan and elsewhere. Indeed, it
is reputed TO be the only tree that will
thrive on the famous Victoria embank-
ment along the Thames, and its powers of
resistance to SCOT, gas and chemicals of
various sorts is quite remarkable. Its
sturdy, upright growth enables it to with
stand the sea winds better than most de-
cIduous trees. 1t would certainly thrive
where many other species would fail in
and around San Francisco and on the
front. The use OF the plane tree in
California will, therefore, introduce no
new problems, for the tree is of the easiest
culture and has been thoroughly tested
in various parts OF Europe, from the fog
lands to the south lands.
The State University has tested this tree
at most Of its stations. Its growth is very
satisfactory, and the very important fact
has been proved that the Oriental plane
will endure large amount of alkali with
out injury. A just-pubhshed report of
Tue agricultural pertinent stations says
OF Platanus orientalis: This fine tree mas
lately attracted much attention as
q stately and hardy street tree,
thriving under many adverse conditions.
1t will grow from cuttings and seed; it
is very rapid grower and deserves to be
extensively planted. especially in hot, dry
districts. 1t also withstands the sea-Winds
better than the lindens and elms But the
chief value of this tree will be in the alkaIi
districts, where it may safely be recon-
mended for extensive planting as the
largest alkaIi-resisting tree yet tested. Its
fuel value per cord will be somewhat
greater than our native sycamore while its
timber value, under proper conditions,
should be considerable the trunk being
straight and tall, while the wood is extern
sively used in Europe for domestic utensils
and furniture.
Three trees of European sycamore are
growing at the Tulare station and the
largest stands upon extremely bad alkaIi
soil. This tree, six years old from seed, |
when measured in the summer of 1895, |
stood twenty-six feet high (six feet to the |!
lowest branches) and its girth three feet |
from the ground was twenty-four inches. |
1t has been five years planted at the sta
ton. An acre of such trees set close so as !
to make clean trunks, would probably be |
ready for thinning and furnish consider !