30 WEEPING TREES. 



downwards, parallel with the stem. Its decided pendulous habit, rich, 

 handsome foliage, delicate branches, render it particularly showy and at- 

 tractive on the lawn. Among ornamental trees of recent introduction this, 

 and Young's Weeping may be considered the most valuable acquisitions of 

 many years. 



The Kilmarnock Weeping 1 Willow first offered in this country by Ell- 

 wanger & Barry in 1857, is now so well-known as to need no description. 

 Being one of the most popular and widely disseminated of weeping trees, 

 its history may not be uninteresting. It was discovered growing wild in a 

 sequestered corner of Monkwood estate, near Ayr, in Scotland, by an aged 

 botanist, named John Smith, an enthusiastic lover of plants, and a zealous 

 collector. From him, Mr. Lang, a nurseryman at Kilmarnock, purchased 

 one plant in the year 1844. 



Sir W. J. Hooker, curator of Kew Gardens, received two plants in the 

 spring of 1852, and having observed how exceedingly ornamental it was, 

 gave Mr. Lang a decided opinion, stating that he thought very highly of it, 

 and that it was much admired in the Royal Garden at Kew. The name 

 Kilmarnock Weeping Willow was given to distinguish it from the common 

 weeping willow and the American weeping willow. Of all weeping trees, it 

 is the one best adapted for small lawns, garden plots or yards. Very hand- 

 some plants may now be obtained, grafted on stems six to eight feet high, 

 for training into umbrella heads. Grafted low, say three to four feet high, 

 with the head nicely kept and the branches trailing on the ground, it becomes 

 a novel and interesting object on the lawn. For rounding off or completing 

 the end of a belt or border of trees or shrubs, it is very appropriate. In 

 my tour through Scotland the past summer, I did not meet with a single 

 specimen of this tree, either in the parks, nurseries or gardens, and I am at 

 a loss to know why it is so little esteemed in its own home especially since 

 we in this country hardly think any ornamental tree equal to it. 



The Weeping Beech is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable of 

 drooping trees. Its habit of growth is odd and eccentric, but at the same 

 time picturesque and beautiful. A strong grower, its branches shoot up- 

 ward, then outward, twist in various directions, and turn into a variety of 

 shapes, then droop and trail on the ground. Divested of its leaves, it is 

 quite ungainly ; but clothed with its rich, luxuriant foliage, it presents a 

 magnificent appearance. It is one of the largest and most curious of lawn 

 trees, and should be planted by itself, where it can have abundance of room 

 Large specimens often cover an area one hundred feet in diameter. Its 

 history is somewhat remarkable. Some sixty years ago Baron de Man's 

 gardener, at Beersal, Belgium, was planting an avenue of Beeches. The 

 Baron, while superintending the work, noticed among the trees selected for 

 the purpose, one poor and crooked specimen, and rejected it. The gardener 

 thinking, however, that it possessed some merit, planted it in a corner of 

 the garden, where it grew to be one of the most beautiful of trees.' One of 

 the noblest specimens I have seen was in Mr. Anthony Waterer's nurseries, 

 at Woking, England. 



The New American or Fountain Willow is a well-known pendulous 

 variety, which forms a very handsome specimen when budded standard high. 

 While it can be trained in umbrella form like the Kilmarnock Willow, it is 

 a much stronger grower, and requires more space. On account of its vig- 

 orous growth, it is much more difficult to keep in shape than the Kilmarnock, 



