WEEPING TREES. 29 



silvery spray, with a caressing grace on every side. Like our magnificent 

 Weepin- Kim. but lighter, smaller and brighter in all its features, it rapidly 

 lifts its head amon- fts compeers till it overtops them, and then spreads its 

 branches, drooping and subdividing into the most delicate silvery branchlets, 

 whose | 'ensile ijrace is only equalled by those of the Weeping Willow." 



Although extensively planted in all parts of this country, it is far from 

 enjoying 'that universal recognition to which its merits justly entitle it. 

 \Vhile [was surprised to note its absence in the finer European parks and 

 gardens. 1 am still more astonished to see so few fine examples in a city 

 where it has been propagated by the thousands for years. The managers of 

 our parks, too, have evinced great indifference toward this tree, if we may 

 judge from the small number of fine specimens to be found growing in them. 

 Strange as it may appear, it seems to have been reserved for the projector? 

 of one of the fine parks m the West to properly employ this truly noble tree, 

 by planting one of their leading avenues with it. All honor to the gentle- 

 men of Chicago, who, realizing the surpassing charms and beauties of this 

 Birch, have not only formed an avenue which will do credit to the park and 

 themselves for all times to come, but will teach, stimulate and encourage 

 similar efforts in other places. 



The Out Leaved Birch is one of those trees which is complete in itself. 

 It has no defects of habit which require to be concealed, and should always 

 be planted by itself in the most prominent and conspicuous position on the 

 lawn. Although it is a rapid grower and attains to considerable size, it is 

 equally well adapted for large and small grounds, and wherever planted 

 always contributes towards rendering a landscape charming and effective. 

 For avenue planting it surpasses all other trees. I have in my mind an 

 avenue which has been planted lately in our city, and I trust the time is not 

 far distant when we shall have several. Were we limited to a single orna- 

 mental tree, we should have no hesitation in selecting this in preference to 

 any other, It is the most graceful of all trees, and deserves to be better 

 l^nown and more widely disseminated. 



Young's Weeping Birch is a new and interesting variety, which is ad- 

 mirably adapted "for the lawn. It was discovered about twenty years ago 

 by Mr. W. Young, of Milford Nursery, England. Owing to the slenderness 

 of the branches, which, in the original plant were so weak, as to creep along 

 the surface, great difficulty was experienced in propagating it. It was first 

 offered in this country by Ellwanger & Barry, in 1873. To the graceful 

 elegance peculiar to the Birch family it adds the odd singular erratic habit 

 of "the Weeping Beech. It has long, slender, thread-like branchlets, which 

 fall from the main branches like spray. Grafted upon stems 6 to 7 feet high, 

 it can be grown into a rounded, regular head, like the Kilmarnock Willow, 

 or left to itself, it will send up a leading shoot, with side branches like the 

 cut-leaved, only more spreading. In this distinct type we have gracefulness 

 and pictiiresqueness combined. It is one of the very best of new trees, and 

 worthy of being introduced into every garden. 



Betula alba pendula elegans is another charming variety, of quite re- 

 cent introduction, and. as yet. but little known. It originated with the 

 Messrs. Bonamy Bros., at Toulouse, France, in the year 1866, and was first 

 exhibited by them at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1867, where it re- 



ved a gold medal, the highest award for new trees. Ellwanger & Barry 

 first offered it in this country in 1873. Its habit of growth is unique and 

 beautiful. Grafted on stems 6 to 8 feet high, the branches grow directly 



