Trees, Shrubs and Vines 



in regard to its leaf-structure ; whether to make it a 

 series of simple, minute, narrow leaves strung along the 

 sides of the newly growing thread-like branch, or to 

 consider it a genuine pinnate leaf, as in the honey- 

 locust, she was plainly in doubt : and so are we ; for 

 many of the long leaf-stems (or branches) are dropped in 

 fall, and some are retained. Are we here looking upon 

 the very process of evolution in the ascent from the 

 simple to the compound leaf? Better to think this, 

 probably, than to suppose it a case of nature's being in 

 a quandary. 



The cypress is native to the Southern States, and 

 yields valuable timber for house-finishings, etc. Like 

 alders and all natures of good taste it lingers by the 

 water's edge, and possibly finds pleasure in seeing its 

 tall form ever imaged in the mirror. 



Hornbeam. — One of our smallest trees, often a shrub, 

 is the hornbeam, or ironwood (^Carpi?ius atnericand). 

 With a fine appreciation of the special affinities of vege- 

 table growth everywhere apparent, the landscape-gar- 

 dener has given to the water-loving hornbeam its favor- 

 ite place upon the shore of pond and lake. When trained 

 into symmetry it is a comparative failure, but in a semi- 

 straggling habit it is singularly effective, as may be seen 

 on the east side of the ' ' Pond. ' ' The leaf is quite elm-like 

 in appearance, and the peculiarly flat sprays show many 

 tiny leaves intermingled, an effect seldom seen except 

 in the hornbeam and an allied species. The bark is a 

 more ready index of the tree than in almost any other 

 species — dark ash, smooth as a beech, and with strange 



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