382 DECIDUOUS TREES. 



"The Red Birch {B. rubra) belongs chiefly to the south, be- 

 ing scarcely ever seen north of Virginia. It prefers the moist soil 

 of river banks, where it reaches a noble height. It takes its name 

 from the cinnamon or reddish color of the outer bark on young trees. 

 When old it becomes rough, furrowed, and greenish. The leaves 

 are light-green on the upper surface, whitish beneath, very pointed 

 at the end, and terminated at the base in an acute angle. The 

 twigs are long, flexible, and pendulous ; and the limbs of a brown 

 color, spotted with white." 



A full collection of birch trees would form a very interesting 

 arboricultural specialty for a suburban place, especially where the 

 ground surfaces are irregular or rocky. 



THE LINDEN OR BASSWOOD. Tillia. 



The linden, famous in Germany as the shade tree of her most 

 celebrated avenues — there taking the same rank that our elm 

 does among us — is inferior to some of our native trees in many 

 essential qualities. It forms an oval, symmetrical head, and the 

 branches, which are smooth and regular, droop with a fine curve 

 from the lower part of the trunk, and, rising again at their extremi- 

 ties, form a graceful sweep most pleasing for an open lawn tree. 

 Indeed, were it not that its leaves are inviting to certain worms, 

 who make silk from them, and then suspend themselves in myriads 

 from tile tree, its abundant foliage and graceful form would espe- 

 cially commend it for park use. The flowers appear in June and 

 July, and hang in loose, pale yellow clusters, and are fragrant. 

 Some of the species or varieties are said to be deliciously per- 

 fumed. The leaves vary from a true heart-shape to an acutely 

 pointed heart-shape ; are of a pleasing light-green color, and 

 smooth, but not glossy, turning yellow in September, and are 

 among the earliest to drop. The variety of lindens is i;ot large. 



The American Linden or Basswood, T. a7nericana, is mainly 

 described in the above description of the genus. It is the most 

 robust of the species. The leaves are from four to five inches in 

 diameter, acute heart-shaped, and pale green. The growth is rapid 



