CHAP. CV. CORYLA‘CEZ. FA‘GUS. 1951 
Horticultural Society, in the autumn of 1817. This tree had been 
rafted on a common beech stock, about 3ft. from the ground. 
he place of grafting is marked by the stock being larger than the 
graft on every side; so that the stem of the purple beech seems as if 
it had been merely set down flat on the stock. “At 1 ft. from the 
ground, the trunk of the stock, or common beech, measures 10 ft. 
10 in. in circumference; and, immediately at the place of grafting, 
the trunk of the purple beech measures only 9 ft. 6 in. in circum- 
ference.” From the ground to the first branch is about 12ft. The 
total height of the tree is between 50 ft. and 60ft., and the diameter 
of the headis 45 ft. It was planted in 1752, and was, consequently, 
when seen by Dr. Neill, about 65 years old. It is altogether, says 
the doctor, “a very handsomely formed well-balanced tree. Toa 
spectator standing directly under it, the leaves appear nearly of the 
usual green colour; and they are but slightly tinged with purple as 
far as they are excluded from the sun: as they approach outwards, 
they get a stronger purplish hue; and on the very exterior they are 
of a deep purple; insomuch that the tree, when seen from a dis- 
tance, appears clothed in black ;”’ and hence the name which it bears 
in Belgium, of swartze beeckenboom, the black beech tree. This tree 
every year (ee seeds, from which numerous young plants have 
been raised, the greater part of which have purple leaves; and, in a 
young hedge in M. Smetz’s garden formed of seedling plants from 
this tree, the deputation “ observed every variety of hue in the 
foliage, from green to purple; yet no individual was completely green. 
and none completely purple.” (p. 107.) This tree, in all probability, 
is the same as that alluded to by Bosc. On writing to Dr. Somme, 
Director of the Botanic Garden at Antwerp, in May, 1837, he 
informs us that the trunk, at 73 in. above the graft, is 15 ft. 10 in. in 
circumference ; but that at 6 ft. 7in. above the graft the eircumfe- 
rence is 3 ft, 10 in. less. The diameter of the head is 72 ft., and the 
total height of the tree is 72 ft. The handsomest purple beech in 
England is at Enville; and, when we saw it in 1831, it was between 
60 ft. and 70 ft. high, clothed with branches to the ground, where 
it extended over a space above 60 ft. in diameter. It stands on 
a small lawn in the pleasure-grounds, and is, consequently, pro- 
tected from cattle. The loftiest purple beech in England is at Syon, 
where, in 1834, it was 71 ft. high; the diameter of the trunk 2 ft. 
10 in., and of the head 61 ft. It flowers, and occasionally ripens seed, 
from which, however, we believe, no plants have yet been raised. 
¥ F. s. 3 cuprea Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836, the copper-coloured Beech, above 
alluded to, as a subvariety of F. s. purpurea, has the young shoots 
and leaves of a paler colour than those of the purple beech. It 
makes a splendid appearance in the sunshine, and when the leaves 
are gently ruffled with the wind ; but, in a state of repose, and on a 
dark cloudy day, it can hardly be distinguished from the common 
green-leaved beech. 
* F. s. 4 foliis variegatis Lodd. Cat,, ed. 1836, has the leaves variegated 
with white and yellow, interspersed with some streaks of red and 
purple. This variety is handsome in spring, when the leaves first 
make their appearance; but, in the course of the summer, their 
variegation is in a great measure lost, and the leaves assume a dirty 
unhealthy aspect. There are also varieties with the leaves striped or 
blotched with white only, and others with only golden-striped leaves. 
* F. s. 5 heterophilla; F.s. laciniata Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; F. s. aspleni- 
folia Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836; F.s.incisa Hort.; F. s. salicifdlia Hort.; 
Hétre a Feuilles de Saule, Fr.; the various, or cut, /eaved Beech; has the 
leaves variously cut, as in fig. 1875.; sometimes in narrow shreds, so 
as to resemble a fern, as in fig.1876.; and, at other times, in shreds of 
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