OUR NATIVE TREES. 45 



The Little Gray birch, Betula popuIifoUa, commonly called 

 White birch, is associated with barrenness, poverty', and neglect. 

 Yet its fastigiate style of branching, its jaunt}' catkins in early 

 spring, twirling like things alive, and the notable beaut}- of its 

 foliage in summer should recommend it to our favorable reijard. 

 If we had to purchase it as a foreign tree we should, I doubt not, 

 esteem it a fine acquisition for the tree border or the lawn. Cer- 

 tainly it is one of nature's restorers of worn out lands, and a val- 

 uable protective " nurse" for other seedlings. 



The birches I believe are deserving the attention of tree 

 growers, whether planting in masses for fuel and timber, or for 

 scenic effect. A well arranged group of our native birches would 

 be a delight to any lover of trees ; and planted singly, in open 

 grounds, they are all attractive. 



I will now speak of the American or White Elm, Ulmus Amer- 

 icana^ the home tree of New England. This tree combines more 

 of the qualities which we admire in different trees than any other 

 of native or imported origin : qualities which seem incompatible 

 when associated, but wiiich in the elm harmonize without a fault. 

 Massiveness, strength, amplitude, loftiness, defiance of the blasts ; 

 yet the most graceful curves, limbs elastic as the Indian bow, 

 pendent spray, light and lithe as the willow — all combine in one 

 tree — a magnificent dome of sylvan shade, 



" Fit shrine for liumble worshipper to hold 

 Communion with his Malier." 



The English elm, Ulmus campestris, of which there are some 

 noble specimens upon Boston Common, has some but not all of 

 these qualities. The poet Gray, in his Elegy, speaks of " those 

 rugged elms," a term fitly applied, for in the distance the tree has 

 much the aspect of an oak, with but little of the gentle grace of its 

 American cousin. 



While the " dome " shape seems to be the normal type of the 

 American elm, it varies greatly from this in certain specimens. 

 Some are far more drooping in habit than others ; and their 

 spread as compared with height is so various as to give them, in 

 the distance at least, the effect of different kinds of trees. Their 

 varied outline suggested to Mr. Emerson the following distinctive 

 terms — to which additions might be truthfully made: the 

 " Dome," the " Vase," the " Parasol," and the " Plume." I am 



