1880.] TRANSACTIONS. 43 



The Black Walnut, a fine vigorons tree, with spreading habit, 

 the lower branches reaching out in a horizontal position, the 

 leaves some 12 or 14 inclics long with six or eight pairs of leaflets 

 on each side, and swaying gracefnlly in the breeze. This is also a 

 fruit-bearing tree, with large round nuts, not as delicate in flavor 

 as the shellbark. The Black Walnut ought to be more exten- 

 sively ]-)lanted, as its many desirable features recommend it for an 

 ornamental tree, when it can have ample space. 



The Birch ( Betula), is a tree of rare and graceful beauty. 

 The most prominent are the English, Weeping, the Canoe, White, 

 Black and Yellow. Some of the birches being so common, lin- 

 ing the very road-sides, and occupying almost all waste spots, the 

 variet}^ has not been as extensively planted for ornament as it 

 deserves. Perhaps the first place should be accorded to the 

 European ; with its shapely form, and tiie graceful sweep of its 

 pendulous brandies, with its beautifully cut and varnislied leaf 

 and witli its snow white bark, it must rank Queen of the Birches. 



The Canoe Bircli about here is in its southern limit, and does 

 not attain the same diameter of trunk that it does in more north- 

 ern regions. I have watched the growth of one specimen for 

 nearly forty years, until it is now almost two feet in diameter ; 

 its clear white papery bark giving a marked effect to the trunk, 

 well furnished with branch and leaf. Where it flourishes it is 

 truly a picturesque tree, of spreading graceful form, and its 

 cultivation sliould be encouraged. 



The Black Birch, or Sweet Birch, is the very first of the family 

 that the boy learns to recognize, as he bites the fragrant bark. 

 The tree has many fine features and is beautiful in its golden 

 racemes, and airy leaf ; it is deservedly finding its way from the 

 wild to cultivated grounds, and thrives therein. 



Tliere has been recently introduced, I believe from England, 

 the Purple Birch. Both bark and leaf are intensely purple, 

 promising to cope with the Purple Beecli. With purple tint and 

 gloss}' leaf it is conspicuous. I am unable yet to describe its 

 habit, my own being quite young but of thrifty growth. 



The Beech (Fagus). Among the larger trees that may be 

 recommended for ornamental planting, the Beech, in its variety, 

 is worthy of more elaborate consideration than this paper will 

 permit. 



If I ever envied a tree, the property of another, it was the 

 Purple Beech ; and I am not prepared, either for the lawn or for 

 a conspicuous position in any grounds, to assign the Purple Beech 

 a second place. It is said to have had its origin in Germany. 

 When properly grown it has so many desirable characteristics 

 that no grounds of any pretensions should be without it. I know 



