DECIDUOUS TREES 97 



often lives to great age, and to the last presents great 

 attractiveness of outline. There is nothing quite so 

 fine in general contour, among the denizens of the lawn, 

 as the dome-like shape of the American elm. As we look 

 dowTi the streets of some of the New England towns, the 

 \istas through the arching American elms remind one of 

 the majestic aisles of some old-time Gothic cathedral. 

 Besides growing fast, and presenting in mature age a 

 noble appearance, the elm is capable of adapting itself 

 to different kinds of soil, both w^et and dry, which is sur- 

 passed by few other trees. Yet it is a tree that readily 

 responds to good treatment, and likes plenty of rich 

 mold and moisture at its roots. 



The English elm grows to be a tree of noble properties 

 and rounded, massive shape, but it is entirely unlike the 

 American elm, making an altogether different effect in 

 the landscape. There are several other good elms in 

 common use on lawns, notably the cork-barked and Sibe- 

 rian kinds. 



In the same rank as the maples and elms stand the lin- 

 dens. Of large size, generally sjrmmetrical form, rich 

 green foliage, giving abundant shade, and, above all, dis- 

 plajing a rapid-growing, easy-transplanting faculty, the 

 several varieties of lindens are of unsurpassed value on 

 the lawTi. The English or European linden is espe- 

 cially symmetrical and noble in appearance, but the 

 American species, while somewhat less interesting in col- 

 oring and outline, is of quicker growth, and adapts itself 

 more readily to all kinds of soil and exposure. Like the 

 Norway maple, the linden should be encouraged to grow 

 its limbs close to the ground, and the silver-leaved variety 

 of linden displays attractively the white undersides of 

 its leaves to the breeze. Unfortunately, disease and 

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