DECIDUOUS LAWN TREES. 



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whatever it may be. Everywhere we look we see blunders comraitted on this very 

 point, either tliroiigh ignorance or negligence. But we shall return to it soon, and 

 di'aw attention to it more in detail. 



We spoke of the American Weeping Elm, English Elm, Scotch or Wgch Elm, 

 Horse Chestmit, Sugar Maple, Silver Maple, Red Maple, Norway Maple, European 

 and American Linden, and American White Ash, as street trees, and all these possess 

 sufficient symmetry of form and beauty of foliage or flowers to give them admission 

 to the lawn ; but they are all trees of large size, and require considerable space to 

 enable them to make an ample development on all sides, as they should do on the 

 lawn. They are therefore adapted only to extensive grounds. With trees of this 

 class we may include the American Chestnut, some of the Oaks, the Beech, the Tulip 

 Tree, the Magnolia acimiinata or " cucumber tree." 



Then among trees somewhat rare, or less generally planted, is the Japan Sophora,* 

 (Sophora Japonica,) a large, round-headed, or compact tree, with pinnate leaves and clus- 

 ters of dull white or cream-colored papilionaceous flowers, bearing considerable resem- 

 blance to the Bohinia, or locust tree. It is remarkable for the deep dark green of its 

 foliage, and for retaining this in the warmest and dryest seasons, and until quite late. 

 In winter, too, it is as remarkable for the greenness of its bark as the Cornus sanguinea 

 is for its brilliant red. It is strange that this tree has not attracted more attention. It 

 may not prove quite hardy in all parts of the country, but it is so at Rochester, where 

 the thermometer annually falls below zero 4 or 5 deg., and occasionally 10 deg., as last 

 winter. It grows somewhat slowly at first, until well established, when it makes fair 

 progress on good ground. It was first introduced into France, from Japan, in 1747. 

 There is a weeping variety, which is one of the most remarkable and beautiful of all 

 pendulous trees. The common sort is propagated by seeds, or by cuttings of the 

 roots ; and the weeping one is grafted on it, generally at six to ten feet from the ground. 



The Virgilia lutea, or Yellow Wood, is a beautiful native tree, abounding in some 

 parts of the western States, and especially Tennessee. It is of the same character in 

 foliage and flowers as the Sophora, and indeed the elder Michaux was of the opinion 

 that it belonged to the same genus. It is successfully grafted on that tree, and this 

 affords a strong proof of affinity. The leaves are pinnate, considerably larger than 

 the Robinia or Sophora, and the flowers are white, produced in pendulous clusters. 

 We hope to see it more extensively propagated and planted. 



The Salisburia adiantifolia, or Ginko, or Maiden Hair tree, of Japan, is a singular 

 and beautiful tree, well worthy of attention, and fit to occupy a prominent situation 

 on a lawn. It has curious wedge-shaped, smooth, shining leaves, and makes a lofty 

 and somewhat conical tree. It is dioecious, and very few specimens even in Europe 

 have produced seeds ; most of the plants sold and disseminated have been raised from 

 cuttings. It is yet rare and scarce everywhere. Cuttings of the ripe wood are easily 

 struck, and of the young wood with leaves on, placed under a bell glass, still easier. 

 It may also be propagated from layers. 



The Kentucky Coffee Tree, (Gymnocladus canadensis,) is another large and hand- ^ 



* See Frontispiece. 



