92 FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE OF SUMMER. 



All maples are fine during summer. As a shade tree 

 especially adapted to midsummer, the best of the genus is 

 undoubtedly the Norway maple. Its leaves are broad and 

 shadowy, with a texture and peculiar habit of lying close 

 to the branches that is productive of the most agreeable 

 shade. Broad and massive in general contour and of a 

 rich green color, the Norway maple must necessarily be an 

 agreeable feature of the summer lawn. 



For another kind of shade than that of the Norway 

 maple, we turn to the Oriental plane-tree, a near relative of 

 our American button-wood, only a better tree. In this 

 instance we find plenty of shade, under large spreading 

 foliage, but a shade that is far less agreeable than that of 

 the beech or maple. Try the shade of/ the black walnut 

 and compare it with that of the American chestnut. Some- 

 thing in the texture and set of the leaves makes the dif- 

 ference. Pliny speaks at some length of this difference 

 between shade trees. The shade of the ailantus is not 

 specially agreeable, although its fine large light-green foliage 

 has a delightful Oriental effect on the summer lawn. Prac- 

 tically the ailantus is thrust into Coventry on account of the 

 disagreeable odor of its flowers for a week or two in June. 



The American chestnut is a noble tree on the summer 

 lawn. The foliage is shining and elegant in outline, and 

 dispenses a pleasant shade. It grows well, and is nearly 

 always thrifty and vigorous. The flowers, too, that whiten 

 the surface of a great chestnut in summer, add greatly to 

 its attraction. 



One of the largest and most conspicuous trees on the 

 lawn is the catalpa. Broad and massive-looking, especially 



