286 



Trees for Shade and Ornament 



spring, becoming deep green in summer and turning brown, finally 

 bleaching out white, persisting partly through the winter. Best devel- 

 oped in a loamy, even stiff, deep, moist soil, but will also grow in shal- 

 lower and drier situations and limestone soils; although then rooting 

 near the surface and being poor in form. It is a rather slow grower, 

 but is one of the most shade-enduring forest trees, and so shady that no 

 grass will grow under it. Free from insects, and clean, but in later 

 life liable to fungus disease, and in its youth to frost and to sun-scald. 

 Somewhat difficult to transplant on account of its deep rooting. A 

 superior tree for lawns with ample space, rivaling the oaks, which it 

 e.xcels in quiet elegance. It is excellent for grouping with evergreens 

 on a large scale. 



Two species are planted: 



F. ferruginea Ait. (210) {Americana), American Beech, distributed 

 throughout the eastern United States and Canada and — 



F. silvatica Linn. (211), European Beech. The latter is somewhat 

 less hardy but rather superior by virtue of its earlier leafing out, with 



smaller, more delicate foli- 

 age, fringed by long hairs 

 around the margin, and 

 with a more compact 

 form. 



For color eiTect, a nat- 

 ural, well-known variety, 

 purpurea (211a), Purple- 

 leaved or Copper Beech, 

 furnishes the finest dark- 

 leaved form, fit for small 

 surroundings and for con- 

 trast. It needs favorable 

 sites to maintain its 

 beauty. 



Several cut-leaved and 

 pendulous varieties are 

 rather attractive; espe- 

 cially var. heterophylla 

 (21 16), and var. qucr- 

 coides (211c), are beautiful, dense, low trees, with interestingly lobed 

 foliage. 



Fig. 99.- 



-European Beech. Fagus 

 silvatica Linn. 



