TREES GROWING IN RICH SOIL. 153 



clusters and appearing after the leaves. Calyx : five-lobed ; conspicuous. 

 Corolla : funnel-form with five somewhat irregular lobes ; viscid. Stamens: 

 red; five; protruding. Pistil: one with a red style; protruding. Capsules: 

 oblong. 



Such a wealth of beauty and fragrance is shed about by this 



lovely azalea in its season of bloom that its presence is hailed 



by every breeze that blows. Often when a strip of woodland 



is entered, and the dark trees cling together as though to shut 



out the light of day, the perfume laden air bespeaks that by 



following its guidance the azalea is to be found. Steps are 



taken and the fragrance becomes stronger. Then as a burst of 



rosy light the blossoms reveal themselves. Thousands of bees 



hum about them and guard the tree from hands that would 



carry its treasures away. Between this tree and the beautiful 



shrubs Azalea viscosa and Azalea nudiflora there is much that is 



similar, although they never become arborescent in their habit. 



Our familiarity with them, however, will help us to appreciate 



this most charming relative of the south. It has appealed 



strongly to horticulturists, and is much seen in greenhouses. 



AHERICAN LINDEN. BASSWOOD. WHITEWOOD. 

 WHISTLE-WOOD. (Plate LXX VI) 



Tilia Americana. 



FAMII Y SHAPE HEIGHT RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Linden. Rounded, tapering 6o-Zo-x2o/eet. Northward and south- May, June, 

 toward the summit. ward to Virginia and 



westward. 



Bark : dark brown deeply ridged vertically, and separating into thin scales. 

 Branches: light grey or brown, terminating in green. Leaves : four to five inches 

 long; simple; alternate; slender-petioled ; rounded in outline with abruptly 

 and conspicuously pointed apex and cordate base ; one side of the leaf gener- 

 ally less developed than the other; sharply and irregularly toothed ; dark 

 green, smooth and glossy above; pubescent underneath, and especially so in the 

 angles of the light coloured and prominent ribs. Flozvers : cream colour ; fra- 

 grant ; growing under the leaves in a cyme on a long, slender peduncle that 

 hangs from the centre of the midrib of a leaf-like axillary bract which is apple- 

 green, lanceolate and smooth. Sepals : five ; pubescent. Petals : five. Stamens: 

 numerous, and adhering in clusters of five to a petal-like scale before each 

 petal. Fruit: greenish grey; round ; downy, and resembling small peas when 

 young; the style and five-toothed stigma projecting from its top. Seeds : ten. 



A bright but unfortunately unknown poet has said that " the 

 loveliest rose in the world is opportunity." And it is opportu- 



