408 THE BOOK OF EVERGREENS. 



interest to the pleasure-ground. As the foliage is of that 

 kind which must be viewed near by to understand its pe- 

 culiarity, and as the form and outline of the tree are pleas- 

 ing and harmonize well with buildings, we would recom- 

 mend that it be planted near the house, where its unique 

 character can be readily seen and appreciated." 



It was first introduced into this country in the year 

 1784, by Alexander Hamilton, Esq., of the Woodlands, 

 (of latter years a charming rural cemetery), near Phila- 

 delphia. These fine old specimens are yet standing, and 

 form one of the most attractive objects in that beautiful 

 " city of the dead," which was once the arboretum that 

 bore the present appropriate title. Other fine specimens 

 are at Boston, at the old Bartram Garden near Phila- 

 delphia, and at Peirce's Park near West Chester, Pa. A 

 specimen of this tree in the Botanical Garden of Pisa is 

 75 feet high and 3 feet in diameter. 



In regard to the rapid growth of this species, Ave give 

 the following account of a specimen growing near Mont- 

 pellier, taken from the Gardener's Chronicle : " In the year 

 1788, Broussonet, who was then in London, sent to Prof. 

 Gouan. of Montpellier, a plant of this species, for which he 

 was indebted to Sir Joseph Banks. In 1812, twenty-four 

 years after being planted, the tree flowered. At that 

 time it was 9-J- yards high. In June, 1835, it was rather 

 more than 17^- yards high. On Dec. 7th, 1853, its stature 

 was determined by careful measurement to be 19f yards, 

 or a trifle more. From this it appears that it lengthened 

 on an average not quite a foot annually ; but it in reality 

 grew nearly three times as fast in the first 47 years, as in 

 the last 18." 



It has proven quite hardy throughout the Middle States, 

 excepting perhaps in the more northern parts of New 

 York and Pennsylvania. A fine specimen is mentioned 

 by Prof. Bunge, who accompanied the Russian mission to 

 Pekin, that was near 40 feet in circumference, and of pro- 



