DECIDUOUS TREES. 449 



The Scotch Laburnum, C. alpina, is considered a hardier and 

 finer species than the preceding, but is closely allied to it in most 

 respects. " The shape of the head is irregular and picturesque ; its 

 foliage is of a smooth shining and beautiful green ; and it is not 

 liable to be preyed on by insects. Though the laburnum will grow 

 in a very indifferent soil, it requires a deep fertile sandy loam to 

 attain a large size. As the tree puts out few horizontal roots, and 

 has rather a spreading head, when it grows rapidly it is apt to be 

 blown aside by high winds." — (Loudon.) The flowers of this spe- 

 cies appear later than the preceding. 



The Weeping Scotch Laburnum, C. a. pendula, is highly val- 

 ued for its beauty and gracefulness in England, but does not suc- 

 ceed so well in this country, at least in the northern States. 



All the laburnums may be regarded as not quite hardy in the 

 northern States, though rarely killed outright by the cold. 



THE AMELANCHIER. Amelanchier vulgaris. 



A low tree, with early and numerous small flowers, which cover 

 it with white bloom about the middle of April. In very warm 

 springs the blossoms appear the last of March, a month before the 

 mass of the fruit trees are in bloom. The leaves resemble those of 

 the pear tree, appear about the same time, and change to a bright 

 yellow in autumn. The fruit is black, about the size of a currant, 

 and of pleasant flavor. This variety is a native of Europe. 



The Canadian Amelanchier or Snowy Mespilus. A. botry- 

 apium. — This American species is known in northern woods as the 

 June berry and wild pear. It becomes a taller tree than the fore- 

 going—from thirty to forty feet high in the woods — fastigiate, with 

 long, slender, dark-colored shoots, and dark bark. In leaf and 

 flower it strongly resembles the preceding. The fruit is a dark 

 purple color, ripe the last of July, and very agreeable to the taste. 

 We have not seen this tree of mature growth in open ground, and 

 cannot therefore speak of its character as an ornamental tree when 

 out of blossom. 

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