Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-05

tack them. On the lawn it is better.
OF the genus Quercus, I have doubts
about it as curb stone tree. As lawn
trees, or In lines in the parking, they are
grand. Pennsylvania avenue. east of the
Capitol, is planted in the middle with Quer-
Gus palustris. They are doing we'll 1t is to
be regretted that 1t was not made uniform.
as suggested by our dear departed friend
Mr.. stiles. who saw, approved, and adj
mired the two rows, q half mile long of
this oak, and said how grand it would be
If continued to the Capitol" See Garden
and Forest. 1893, for his notes on this SUBJ
ject.
Quercus rubra, on 18th street, will be a
grand double row in the near future, plant
ed four feet from the curb in a continuous
strip of parking. Massachusetts, avenue.
four miles long, is planted with four rows
of American linden. They are doing well.
1t is not perfect tree, but much better
than the European linden. which is apt to
be destroyed by the borer. The same may
be said of the ash, especially the European,
Fraxinus excesa. This Is very valuable
species, but none of the forms escape this
terrible enemy. With the American spe-
cies he is not quite SO successful in dis
figuring and destroying them. In the b.
tanical Garden there is fine specimen of
Fraxinus Americana, which has braved
the storms of at least sixty winters or
more A cyclone broke it up about six
years ago, necessitating it's being headed
back. 1t is now an ideal tree in summer
In winter not quite so idealistic.
Frsxinus pubescens and quadrangularis
where there is good SOIL are worthy of
trial.
In dainty little rare volume, with the
authors autograph, a token Ct friend
ship to your humble servant, styled Hand
book of Ornamental Trees by Thos. Nee
han, gardener. 1853 I find the following un-
der "Acer dasycarpum:" lone Of the fin
est OF our native trees. 1t is so often seen
in half-starved stunted state as a street
tree, that one might be incredulous Of it's
beauty, when under proper circumstances
from mere description"
Judicious Pruning.
One would think the talented editor and
hcnored professor had recently visited the
city of Washington. His description suits
the actuality there at the present time.
The clamor against tree trimming has
nearly ruined the 23,0O0 we have planted
as curb trees in Washington. The limited
supply of moisture and food obtainaDle in
that position renders it necessary that this
large growing tree should be judiciously
Pruned. 1t is not an idealistic theory: 1t
is condition that confronts US In this
case. With roots Gagged and confined it is
not possible for 1t to sustain a large top.
Intelligence should take this whole situa-
tien into consideration and act accord
ngly. The habits snd habitat of the trees
should receive careful consideration
Acer rubrum. the red, or swamp maple.
The latter name indicates the position for
WHICH II Is pest suited. NOT being able Ia
obtain this tree in the nurseries we went
to the woods, with but moderate success.
Had We cut the small trees to the ground
when planting them in the nursery think
We would have dore better. Its gorgeous
aUtumnal tints make 1t an object Of great
Interest to every lover of trees.
Acer negurdo, ash leaved maple. THIS
eeriy heralder of spring. with its beautiful
green foliage and its rapid growth, would
be an excellent street tree were it not for
hein
fond Of 1t. In this respect 1t rivals the
native cherries. If adopted be vigilant to
remove the bag worms during the winter
months and watch carefully for the web
caterpillar in early summer. 1t should be
skillfully pruned to keep it in good health.
The horse chestnut Aesculus hippocas-
tanum. We achieved satisfactory results
with this tree on both 18th and De Sales
streets, owing to the opportunity afforded
by the heavy filling required there. In
poor soil. with no chance to root deep. by
the last of summer it is rot beautiful to
look upon.
With this mountain tree we have had only
moderate success. 1t gets covered with
seeds. indicating it's arrival at maturity,
a desirable condition in fruit orchards,
but not in street tree. (See DR.. Lindsey's
Theory of Horticulture on this subject.)
There are many good specimens in Wash
ingtop. A variety with the leaves a fine
purple underneath, comes true from seed
grounds when Its leaves are moved by the
wind.
Some fine specimens of Acer campestre,
the turn-table maple of the Romans
branching to the ground, forming hand
some pyramids, planted there under the
direction of M. Olmstead, have been TOM
ahawked lately, agreeable to an unin-
structed, semi-popular request.
Acer compeStre austriacum grows freer
and is altogether larger, different APP
pearing tree, and may, when more abund-
ant. make street tree. 1t has not the
dwarf habit of the species.
A Few Practitioners.
Permit me here to name a few proba-
TONERS for the office of street decoration
and as sanitary cooling agents. Phello-
dendron amurensis-this, 1 think, would
fill both offices; Zelkoa crenata, and acu-
minata, Celtis occidentalis american net
tie tree), Celtis crassifolia, the blackberry.
These we would call necessity trees. Birds
get the fruit in hard weather, and for this
reason we recommend them to be planted
largely In parks and other public places.
Catalpa kampferii of Japan. Railroad
ties have been cut from this tree grown
on the farm of Edwin H. Funston, lola,
Kan. from seed furnished him by us in
1885. 1t is of more upright habit than the
American species. and Is, think a prob
able street tree in some sections. Ostrya
virginia. would make a nice small but
TdtneT sIoW-STOWlHS street tree. 1t could
be trimmed to a pyramid Of dainty endur-
Ing proportions. Koelreuteria paniculata,
q small tree, much used by Mr.. Olmstead
in the Capitol grounds, beautiful in leaf
and flower, and its seed pod interesting
Its habit makes it doubtful candidate for
stree decoration.
l make bold to recommend that much
abused tree Ailanthus glandulosa, for GER
tain streets l quote from memory Mr.
Linch, curator of the Oxford Botanic Gar
cens who says in an English paper, There
are 10000 Of this tree in the streets Of
Paris" The objection to this tree-its bad
odor when in fower-can be overcome by
cutting 1t back every two or three years
You Will then get rich tropical foliage
and g. low tree 1 doubt IL it can be cur
ed OF its bad habit of suckering 1t might
help the matter to raise them from seed,
Ex-Mayor Wallach informed me that there
was law against planting them in the
District of Columbia. so none were planted
Cedrella sinensis f1ourishes in the city of
Washington, but like its near relative, the
ailanthus, it has the habit Of throwing
up shoots from the roots. Its usefulness
has yet to be determined.
The Poplar.
Populus angulata, Carolina pop,ar We
purchased one plant from the most scion
tific nurseryman of his age in the United
States. w. d. Breckenridge. and planted it