The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-11-07
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4-That the

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.-That the
largest shade tree In the United States.
as brought to light by the prize con-
test held by the American Cenetic as
sociation, should turn out to be the
eastern sycamore is not surprising,
Say government foresters. The syca-
more has long been regarded as the
largest deciduous tree In North Amer
lea and its range Of growth is hardly
second to that OF any other broad-leaf
tree; for 1t can be found from Maine
to Florida, and as far west as Kansas.
The bestowal OF the prize on a syca-
more at Worthington. Indiana, which
Is AZ feet 3 inches in circumference
and $50 feet tall, draws attention to
the fact that foresters are nowadays
the species especially
for city planting. They say that long
experience with sycamores planted in
city streets has shown that the spe-
Icies is peculiarly able to Withstand the
smoke, dust, and gases which are
usually an unavoidable complement of
urban life. In addition, the sycamore
lis as resistant to attacks of insects
and fungi as almost any species, and
Is quick grower; at ten years of age,
"a healthy sycamore usually is already
large enough for shade as well as for
decorative purposes. AS for the lat
ter, there is hardly any eastern species
which is generally held so picturesque
as the sycamore With its strikingly
notified bark and magnificent stature
and conformation, the sycamore has a
marked individuality and can not be
mistaken for any other species, either
In the summer when the foliage con
ceals its structural form, or in the
winter when the leaves are absent.
A common objection to the sycamore
as lawn tree is its habit of dropping
/ its leaves before autumn. From this
characteristic 1t is some times called
dirty tree" Recently the forest
ban resident who has q sycamore on
his lawn. my sycamore tree is very
beautiful" said the writer, until
leaves begin to fall. Is there any rem
edy that I can apply to the tree tc
keep 1t from dropping its leaves Sc
soon?" 1t was necessary to tell the
correspondent that this was char
drawback, however, is practically the
lGiilHS lIdl lie
and it is Offset by many desirable
qualities. IF
! On the other hand. there Is little
prospect OF popularity, foresters say
for the valley oak OF California, which
was decided to be the largest nut
bearing tree In the United States, the
contest unearthing a specimen in Sar
Benito county, which is 81 feet
inches in circumference and 125 fee
high The valley oak Is very beau
tiful tree, but Ii attafns maturity onl,
after three or four hundred years; it:
wood is too tough, knotty, and other
wise imperfect to be good for lumber
the tree grows too slowly to be plant
ed for shade or decorative purposes
and, being found only in California, !
would have small field Of usefulness
IHorticulturists say that the valley oai
Is not popularity considered nut
bearing tree; for its acorns are no
generally used for food, although. o
course, they are edible. Foresters sa.
that the chestnut and the black wal
nut are the largest nut-bearing tree
lin this country, and the contest did, ii
fact. unearth chestnut near Crest
mont, North Carolina, which Is 8
fleet 4 inches in circumference ant
Iabout rs feet tall.