104 HOW TO PLAN THE HOME GROUNDS 



undoubtedly point to successful fall planting of birches. 

 And yet we must have the birch, for in spite of these 

 drawbacks it is without doubt one of the most precious 

 and important elements of the landscape, whether we see 

 it singly growing, alongside a great rock or against a 

 background of evergreens, or in clusters springing from 

 one general center. In order to secure success, and it 

 is not really a difficult tree to transplant if care is taken, 

 we should see that the young fibrous roots are not injured 

 in digging or allowed to dry up during transportation to 

 the place where they are to be planted. The happiest 

 s ituations for birches are a long the shores of stream s, oi 

 in_the m idst of shrubs o n__the smallest village lo t, where 

 they present a most distinguished effect, and serve to varj 

 the outline and sky line of the bordering shrubbery in 

 the most delightful manner. 



No one, I fancy, will dispute that the beeches are 

 among the maat_jichly-£iidQW-eid^^^ahade^jtrees. The}/ 

 have gr^q t longevi ty, and exceeding b eauty of trunk , 

 touch, t^igj^ and leaf. The trunk has rounded contours 

 and greenish gray tints that are attractive in all species 

 and varieties, whether European or American. The twigs 

 are sharply pointed and quaint, especially on American 

 beeches in the winter time, and the lea3Z£a«ax£-xie.h and 

 gl^y, and grorrp_ th em sel ve s i n .- eff p a ti- vf >!' ^ rrn i i ^sfts . 



Fagus ferruginea, the American beech, has always 

 seemed, for some unaccountable reason, to be neglected. 

 It is extremely interesting with its light-gray bark and 

 layer-like masses of elegant-looking foliage. 



Purp le be^ clies and weeping beeclies are renamiBd-for 

 bfiailty, but they should be used -sparingly, as their some- 

 what ab normal appearance, beautiful as it is, partially 

 unfits them for blending harmoniously with the general 



