246 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



The Peperidge Tree. Nyssa. 



Nat. Ord. SantalaceEe. Lin. Syst. Polygamia, Dioecia. 



The Peperidge, Tupelo, or sour gum tree, as it is called 

 in various parts of the Union, grows to a moderate size, 

 and is generally found in moist situations, though we have 

 seen it in New York State, thriving very well in dry upland 

 soils. The diameter of the trunk is seldom more than 

 eighteen inches, and the general height is about forty or 

 fifty feet. The flowers are scarcely perceptible, but the 

 fruit borne in pairs, is about the size of a pea, deep blue, 

 and ripens in October. 



The leaves are oval, smooth, and have a beautiful gloss 

 on their upper surface. The branches diverge from the 

 main trunk almost horizontally, and sometimes even bend 

 downwards like those of some of the Pine family, which 

 gives the tree a very marked and picturesque character. 



The Peperidge when of moderate size is not difficult to 

 transplant, and we consider it a very fine tree, both on 

 account of its beautiful, dark green, and lustrous foliage in 

 summer, and the brilliant fiery color which it takes when 

 the frost touches it in autumn. In this respect it is fully 

 equal in point of beauty to that of the Liquidambar or Sweet 

 gum, and the maples which we have already described ; 

 and so fine a feature do we consider this autumnal beauty 

 of foliage that we would by all means advise the introduc- 

 tion of such trees as the Peperidge into the landscape for 

 that reason alone, were it not also valuable for its peculiar 

 form and polished leaves in summer. 



Besides the Peperidge there are three other Nyssas, 

 natives of this continent, viz. the Black gum {N. Si/lvatica), 



