DECIDUOUS TREES. 431 



beauty, one Beurre Bosc, four Seckels, one Virgalieu, one Sheldon, 

 one Beurre Diel, one Dix, one Lawrence, and two Pound pears for 

 cooking. For a collection of ten standards we would name one 

 Madelaine, one Bloodgood, one Dearborn's seedling, four BartlettS) 

 one Flemish beauty, two Seckels. The variety of fine autumn 

 pears is however so large, that with the exception of the Bartletts 

 and Seckels which are indispensable in the proportions named, 

 numerous other varieties of equal value may be substituted. 



THE MOUNTAIN ASH. Pyriis sorbus. 



The European Mountain Ash, F. aiicuparia, and the 

 American, P, americana, are both among the most common of 

 small ornamental trees, planted principally for the beauty in au- 

 tumn of their large droojDing clusters of bright red fruit, w'hich 

 remain a long time on the tree, and produce a brilliant effect. 

 The foliage is composed of pinnate leaves, forming a delicate spray, 

 but of dull color, and not disposed to form pleasing masses of 

 light and shade. The tree is compactly ovate when young, but 

 becomes round-headed with age. The European variety has the 

 brighter-colored fruit, and is rather more desirable. They become 

 trees from thirty to forty feet high, and nearly equal diameter. 

 The following are interesting varieties: 



The Weeping Mountain Ash, P. petidida, is a variety of the 

 P. auaiparia, of rapid growth, and decidedly pendulous or trailing 

 habit. The flowers, leaves, and fruit, are like the preceding. It is 

 apt to be bald on the crown, showing too plainly the bent frame- 

 work of its branches ; but in other respects is a desirable lawn 

 tree. It is grafted high on some of the upright varieties. 



The Oak-leaved Mountain Ash, P. pinnatifida, is quite 

 distinct from the aiiciiparia in its general appearance, and in the 

 character of its leaves, though it assumes nearly the same outline. 

 The leaves are simple, instead of compound, and deeply-lobed ; a 

 bright pure green on the upper surface, and quite downy beneath. 

 At a little distance its solid mass of foliage gives the impression 

 of a maple rather than a mountain ash. It is in full leaf as early 



