On " The Point " Second Excursion 



one secret of the attractiveness of maple, elm, beech, and 

 oak, as compared with catalpa, persimmon, osage orange, 

 sour gum, and sassafras. Magnolias and rhododendrons 

 have entire leaves also, but the effect is somewhat offset 

 by their rich green and heavy texture. There are com- 

 paratively few species of plants to whose leaves Nature 

 has not taken the pains to give the finish of a fringed 

 edge. Let one examine a dozen leaves of different 

 species in this one respect alone, and it will be a revela- 

 tion of nature's skill in ornamentation before unrealized. 

 In my opinion, the peculiar serrate edge in the elm is 

 the most elegant of any native tree. 



LOCUSTS. Of native ornamental trees none are 

 more generally cultivated and distinctive in their whole 

 atmosphere than the locusts, a pleasing text for any tree- 

 lover to dilate upon. Two of them being brothers 

 (botanically), and the third a first cousin, we had best 

 consider them together, the better to note their points 

 of contrast, although only the common locust is found 

 upon "The Point/' 



As regards foliage, by far the finest is the honey-lo- 

 cust, which is indeed unequalled among all our trees for 

 its exquisite feathery verdure, resulting from the minute 

 dissection of its decompound leaf, forming the most airy 

 sprays of foliage imaginable, emphasized by the often 

 imposing altitude, and an extremely dark-colored bark 

 a most striking union of virility and grace. Compare 

 it for a moment with any other pinnate-leaved tree, like 

 the butternut or ash, and its extreme delicacy is at 

 once evident. It is in the middle of May that the mul- 



79 



