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Trees serve many different purposes, and the trees selected should be architecturally adapted to these purposes. Between the living exclamation points, like Lombardy poplars and tall narrow evergreens, and wide-spreading growths such as untrammeled oaks or black walnuts, one finds a host of trees that differ in size and shape and structure and texture of bark and seed containers and so on. Trees truly do afford a vast variety of ornamental forms that the homeowner may well take into consideration. For more and more, this is the age of the picture window; and it is wise to make sure that the picture is pleasing.
When it comes to planting shade trees, use the many fine nut trees that will provide all the growth and shade of maples and elms, with a bonus harvest of nuts thrown in. A nut tree can do the job that any ordinary shade tree will do.
Chestnut Chinese blight-resistant variety now produces chestnuts as fine as those from native American varieties used to be.
Shagbark Grows tall and stately and the full grown tree produces three or four bushels of nuts.
Mulberry A small tree that grows a big harvest of fine-tasting berries.
English walnut New varieties are arousing new interest in this tree that has been popular for thousands of years.
Don't fail to investigate these other trees: persimmon, pawpaw, hickory, honey locust, northern and southern pecan, grafted hiccans and even the oaks whose acorns can be used for fodder.
Excerpted from the original Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening. Edited by J.I. Rodale and Staff. Copyright 1959, by J.I. Rodale. Renewed 1999, Rodale Inc.
