Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-29

Reading recently an article in praise
OF the apple tree, we fell to wondering
why it is not. planted more in the city.
Fins, and oaks, and naples are ell
very WELL not to be excelled IN their
way, but there still remains much to
be said for the apple tree.
In Spring 1t is veritable bower Of
bloom. All Summer long 1t sheds
shade, to say nothing of apples; and
when Autumn comes the apple tree,
with its twisted and gnarled limbs, is
more picturesque than most.
An apple tree comprises the early
floral memory OF many a man and
woman born in a small town, where
there was more room, and hence more
apple trees.
Every household had one or more Of
these good trees, in the land we call
back home. The variety makes no Diff
ference at this late date.
1t is true that an apple tree Is
somewhat messy, II We insist on our
city manners.
Truly, the world is getting 80 lazy
that soon mankind will not be willing
to novel
Apples must be picked up when they
fall on the ground, but that is not
such a great task, after all, especially
If one possesses only one or two trees.
There are few trees, II one comes to
that, which are not somewhat dirty,
from the human standpoint.
Most of them discard blossoms, send
showers of seeds to the earth, some
throw long strings to the ground, others
litter sidewalks and lawns with large
pods.
The catalpa, for instance, is notori-
a lave
why 1t is ever planted at all.
\
Apple trees are not fast growers, but
few trees are, for that matter.
Trees are the elephants Of the plant
kingdom.
They are slow Of growth, but they
last long time. No one expects
tree to pop up overnight and become
q big fellow in year.
Every one may wish that so much
might be true. 1t would be nice of the
trees, If they would, but they will not.
Those that do have their plain imper-
fections. The Normandy poplar is not
an American tree, and fits in with few
OK our homes and paintings. Occa-
sionally one sees it properly used, but
not often.
Other quick growers are susceptible
to inimical city conditions, some of
them whitening beneath the lack Of
moisture, others suffering from gaso-
line fumes.
other fast-growing trees are as
quick to die, so that a householder who
thinks he possesses a treasure in them
soon finds out his mistake.
\ \
A few trees will go long way.
One or two good trees are sufficient
FOR the average property.
The best city and suburban planting
consists CT rows of good trees along the
streets, with some behind each home,
enough to lend proper background
value.
These specimens, however, must be
real trees. The common impression
that great mass of trees is desirable
around a home is due, in part, to the
fact that too few trees one sees are
well grown.
1t takes a number Of scrawny
skinny trees together to look well,
whereas one or two fine specimens
would give more than all Of the little
ones put together.
There is no greater mistake, in the
consideration of the average home pur-
chaser, than the belief that he ought
to live in grove.
Forests are nice, If you have plenty
Of open space, too, but If 1t comes to
a choice OF open space versus trees, take
the open space any time.
One cannot have good flowers, good
grass, good evergreens and good shrubs
II there are too many trees. Not only
do the leaves cut off the alI-necessary