DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 217 



amber in every stage of its growth., and during every season 

 of the year. Its outline is not picturesque or graceful, but 

 simply beautiful, more approaching that of the maple than 

 any other : it is, therefore, a highly pleasing, round-headed 

 or tapering tree, which unites and harmonizes well with 

 almost any others in composition ; but the chief beauty lies 

 in the foliage. During the whole of the summer months 

 it preserves, unsoiled, that dark glossy freshness which is 

 so delightful to the eye ; while the singular, regularly palmate 

 form of the leaves readily distinguishes it from the common 

 trees of a plantation. But in autumn it assumes its gayest 

 livery, and is decked in colors almost too bright and vivid 

 for foliage ; forming one of the most brilliant objects in 

 American scenery at that period of the year. The pre- 

 vailing tint of the foliage is then a deep purplish red, unlike 

 any symptom of decay, and quite as rich as is commonly 

 seen in the darker blossoms of a Dutch parterre. This is 

 sometimes varied by a shade deeper or lighter, and occa- 

 sionally an orange tint is assumed. When planted in the 

 neighborhood of our fine maples, ashes, and other trees 

 remarkable for their autumnal coloring, the effect, in a 

 warm, dry autumn, is almost magical. Whoever has 

 travelled through what are called the pine barrens of New 

 Jersey in such a season, must have been struck with the 

 gay tints of the numberless forest trees, which line the 

 roads through those sandy plains, and with the conspicuous 

 beauty of the Sweet gum, or Liquidamber. 



The bark of this tree when full grown, or nearly so, is 

 exceedingly rough and furrowed, like that of the oak. The 

 wood is- fine-grained, and takes a good polish in cabinet 

 work ; though it is not so durable, nor so much esteemed 

 for such purposes, as that of the Black walnut and some 



