154 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



regard. Standing alone as a single tree, or in a group 

 of at most three or four in number, it developes itself in 

 all its perfection. The White American elm we consider 

 the most beautiful of the family, and to this we more 

 particularly allude. In such situations as we have just 

 mentioned, this tree developes its fine ample form in the 

 most perfect manner. Its branches first spring up em- 

 bracing the centre, then bend off in finely diverging lines, 

 until in old trees they often sweep the ground with their 

 loose pendent foliage. With all this lightness and peculiar 

 gracefulness of form, it is by no means a meagre looking 

 tree in the body of its foliage, as its thick tufted masses 

 of leaves reflect the sun and embosom the shadows as 

 finely as almost any other tree, the oak excepted. We 

 consider it peculiarly adapted for planting, in scenes 

 where the expression of elegant or classical beauty is 

 desired. In autumn the foliage assumes a lively yellow 

 tint, contrasting well with the richer and more glowing 

 colors of our native woods. Even in winter it is a 

 pleasing object, from the minute division of its spray and 

 the graceful droop of its branches. It is one of the most 

 generally esteemed of our native trees for ornamental 

 purposes, and is as great a favorite here as in Europe for 

 planting in public squares and along the highways. 

 Beautiful specimens may be seen in Cambridge, Mass., 

 and very fine avenues of this tree are growing with great 

 luxuriance in and about New Haven.* The charming 

 villages of New England, among which Northampton 

 and Springfield are pre-eminent, borrow from the superb 

 and wonderfully luxuriant elms which decorate their fine 



• The great elni of Boston Common is 22 feet in circumference. 



