DECIDUOUS TREES, 325 



deep shady bower of novel beauty. In our Chapter XIV, on Arti- 

 ficial Adaptations of Trees and Shrubs, are some suggestions on this 

 subject, to which in this connection the reader's attention is invited. 



THE CAMPERDOWN ELM so nearly resembles the Scamston, that 

 some persons consider them the same. Sargent believes them 

 different, and notes that the former has a growth a little more open 

 than the latter. From the fact that pretty good observers mistake 

 one for the other, we may infer that the difference is not material. 



THE BEECH. Fagus. 



" * * * w h o shall grave, as was the wont 

 Of simple pastoral ages, on the rind 

 Of my smooth beeches, some beloved name ? " 



BRYANT. 



The beech is one of the grandest forest trees of both Europe 

 and America. On both continents vast tracts of land are covered 

 with it, to the exclusion of other trees, which cannot thrive in 

 the dense shade it creates. Its smooth gray bark, never furrowing 

 with age, but spotted in old trees with horizontal belts or patches 

 of light-gray, makes a beech tree trunk an attractive and cheerful 

 object among other trees, as well as a convenient surface on 

 which to carve or write. Attaining great size, and forming deep 

 shadows, it is, nevertheless, at all times a cleanly, cheerful-look- 

 ing tree ; and in winter the great number and light color of its 

 radiating branches and abundant spray is a pleasant characteristic. 



The play of light and shade in the foliage of the beech is pe- 

 culiar. The lights are sharply-defined, and thin ; and the shadows 

 proportionally strong, and disposed horizontally in layers or strata, 

 like those of the pine and spruce families, notwithstanding the 

 branches, when bare of leaves, radiate at acute rather than right 

 angles from the trunk. 



The form of the tree is usually ovate, but with more variety of 

 outline in different specimens than is found among maples or 

 horse-chestnuts, varying from oblate to conical forms, with sky out- 

 lines occasionally quite broken and spirited. 



