214 



ORNAMENTAL TREES. 



pretty, pendulous, light green blossoms, much 

 like currant blooms, make their appearance, 

 to gladden the heart of the planter even be- 

 fore the foliage. 



Silver Maple. — A tree much planted, 

 and well known in Pennsylvania and New- 

 Jersey ; very little known in any other of the 

 northern states. Certainly, it is the prettiest 

 of the maples in its graceful habit, as well as 

 the most rapid growing, though it has not the 

 rich colouring of the Sugar Maple in autumn, — 

 the leaves dying of a pale yellow. The Sugar 

 and the Soft or Red-blossomed Maples are 

 also most deserving trees ; but when imme- 

 diate effect is wanted, the Silver Maple should 

 be planted in preference. 



English Sycamore Maple. — A fine 

 hardy tree, which, I am sorry to say, is yet 

 by no means common in this country. Its 

 fine, large, and broad leaves, coming out 

 early and hanging till late, make it a capital 

 standard tree for the lawn or pleasure ground. 



Weeping Birch. — A Scotch tree, very 

 graceful in the landscape, with light airy foli- 

 age and pleasing habit. 



Weeping Willow. — In the middle states 

 this is a very valuable tree ; at the extreme 

 north it is rather delicate. The very first 

 tender green tree leaves that salute the long- 

 ing eye, when winter is fairly past, are those 

 of the willow, as well as the last that defy the 

 frost in autumn. Very rapid growth, and 

 much grace of outline, are additional good 

 qualities. Undoubtedly the willow, like the 

 Lombardy Poplar, should never be abun- 

 dantly planted in any country place. Such 

 marked and peculiar trees, like great gene- 

 rals, should never be made common and vul- 

 gar, by assembling too many of them in one 

 revieio ; though a few of them, certainly one 

 or two, in a rural landscape, tell admirably. 

 Where there is water in the scene — such as a 

 lake, pond, or river — the willow, which so 

 essentially belongs there, may be more multi- 



plied. It is a mistake, however, to suppose 

 that the tree will not grow in dry soil. In a 

 good, deep, dry soil, few trees thrive better 

 or make wood faster than the Weeping Wil- 

 low. It is only in thin, dry soil that it fails. 



Tulip Tree. — Though this can hardly be 

 called an early tree, neither can it be deemed 

 late, as its leaves come out soon after those 

 of the maple, its great elegance of habit, 

 and striking beauty of leaf and blossom, re- 

 commend it to every planter who has an eye 

 for fine proportions. It is quite shy of re- 

 moval when large ; and I therefore recommend 

 planters to choose small specimens, four or 

 five feet high, from the nursery. Once es- 

 tablished in deep soils, it advances with great 

 rapidity ; and whether young or old, there 

 are few finer things to gaze upon than a tulip 

 tree, standing on an open lawn, where it can 

 expand freely on all sides. 



The Common Chestnut. — I never see 

 this noble tree planted ; and the reason is, 

 because it is one of the commonest trees in 

 the woods. And yet, how few of us know 

 how majestic and grand is a chestnut, grown 

 on a lawn where there is " ample room and 

 verge enough ; " where it can form a gigantic 

 and massy head, like a great globe. Certainly, 

 the American chestnut is a more beautiful 

 large tree than the oak ; since, to equal 

 grandeur of proportions, it adds greater va- 

 riety of tint. Few things are finer than a 

 group of chestnuts, in full tassel ; and few 

 trees afi"ord a finer shade, or attain a large 

 size more rapidly. If a little pains were 

 taken to select the largest and finest nuts to 

 sow, a great improvement might be made in 

 the size and quality of the fruit. 



The Purple Beech. — All the beeches 

 are fine trees ; but the true Purple Beech is 

 a very valuable tree in the landscape, as its 

 colour is a bold contrast to the uniform green 

 tint of most other deciduous trees. If the 

 soil is well trenched, and made light and 



