26 



HAND-BOOK OF PRACTICAL 



growth, every line and twig is one of graceful ease. Young 

 trees should always be procured with branches starting from the 

 ground, and rarely does it need the knife applied to give it 

 regularity and symmetry and form. A deep, loamy, rather 

 moist soil gives it most vigor and causes it to grow to a large 

 size. As a single lawn tree it has no superior, and wherever 

 room can be given for its full development it should be planted. 



There are mady varieties of the Beech, of which the Cut 

 leaved, Crested leaved, Fern leaved, Long leaved, Oak leaved 

 and Purple leaved, each have a distinct character. The Purple 

 leaved is certainly the most desirable of all, except the native. 

 It has rather stronger limbs than the common plain variety, and 

 the young shoots and buds are of a rare color, while the foliage, 

 when young or half grown, is of a reddish purplish tinge, 

 forming a pleasing and attractive contrast with the green of 

 other trees. 



The Birch. — This tree in its varieties is adapted to poor soils. 

 The lenta and puhesceus are the most common, while the primus 

 padus is one of the largest in growth and production of fruit. 

 One dwarf variety nana makes a' tree of only about five feet 

 high. The varieties are admirable for crowning a point of 

 rocky ledge or grouping with the Scotch Larch and Hemlock or 

 "White and Combined Pines. 



Butternut — Juglaus Cineria. — Although not strictly to be 

 classed among ornamental trees, yet the rapidity of growth while 

 young, the habit of early bearing, together with the great value 

 of its fruit, makes the Butternut a tree desirable to plant 

 wherever a suitable place can be found. 



Catalpa. — Syringafolia. — A native of our Southern States, the 

 CatalLa or Shavasion is one of our most showy as well as rapid 

 growing trees. It is not quite hardy in our Northern States, 

 except where it has protection from evergreen trees. It is a tree 

 that groups well with the Scotch, Austrian and yellow pines. A 

 light, dry soil is best suited to its growth. 



Cherry. — The Wild or Bird Cherry has several varieties 

 popularly recognized, but only that classed by botanist as 



