Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-09-17
Good Trees for Small Lots.

From Farmers Review: The Cut
leaved Birch Is of rapid growth, and
very hardy, and makes a very beauti-
ful small tree in short time. It's
beauty is not apparent, however, dur
ing its earlier period of growth. 1t
must be five or six years before the
many slender branches sent out along
its larger branches begin to show its
dropping or weeping" character.
Then it is very attractive, especially
in fall, when its foliage turns to a
rich yellow. / do not know how it is
elsewhere, but with us great injury
Is likely to be done to it each year
by wood-pecker which drills a row
OF holes, sometimes several rows,
about the trunk. He does this as soon
as the sap begins to flow. At first
his object may not be easily under.
stood, but little careful investiga.
ton shows that ants ascend the tree
In great numbers, attracted by the
sweet sap exuding from the holes the
bird has drilled, and near which he
sits in waiting to make a meal off
them. The bird works in silence, and
your tree may be severely injured
before you suspect his presence. 1t
Is good plan to fill the holes with
paint, as soon as you discover them.
II this is done, the bark soon heals
about them. If not done, water gets
into them and decay soon results.
l have for the last five or six years
wound the larger branches of my birch
with wide strips of cloth to keep the
bird from working on it.
The Japanese Naples, especially the
cut-leaved sorts, are rapid growers and
extremely hardy. They are not effec-
tive, however, unless given an open
location where their beauty can be
readily seen from all sides. One tree
of this kind is quite enough for the
average-sized lot.
The Mountain Ashes are favorites
because of their hardness, their pref
ty foliage, and their extremely orna-
mental fruit. None of them become
very large, therefore they are ad-
mirably" suited to small grounds.
The Soft Maple is very popular
everywhere for several good reasons:
1t is easily transplanted, grows with
great rapidity, forms a dense rather
low head composed Of many branches,
without requiring much attention in
the way of pruning, and has a partic-
ularly graceful general habit which
admirably adapts 1t to grounds of
limited space. Its foliage is always
beautiful, but especially so in fall,
when its summer green gives place
to gold and scarlet. 1t is a tree that
seems to flourish in almost all local
tiles. OF all trees I have ever had
any experience with 1t is the surest
to grow, the most graceful in develop
ment, and the best all-around sort for
general use.
Many people want something that
will grow to good size in five or six
years. For these would advise the
Box Elder, or Sycamore-leaved Maple.
Young trees often make a growth of
six, eight or ten feet in season.
When they begin to branch, growth is
less rapid, but 1t goes forward more
rapidly than that Of any other tree
I know Of. 1t is true that in general
appearance the tree is somewhat
coarse, but not disaTeeably so. This
popularity one can afford to overlook
because of the certainty of it's reach
ing satisfactory style of develop
ment in a very short time. So far,
/ have never known it to be attacked
by any insect or disease. This is
good deal in its favor, and ought to
offset some of its shortcomings
Eben E. Rexford.