DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 145 



.The leaves of the lime are large and handsome, heart- 

 shaped in form, and pleasing in color. The flowers, which 

 open in June, hang in loose, pale yellow cymes or clusters, 

 are quite ornamental and very fragrant. 



Sometimes 



A scent of violets and blossoming limes 

 Loitered around us ; then of honey cells, 

 Made delicate from all white flower bells. 



KEATS. 



It was a favorite tree in the ancient style of gardening, 

 as it bore the shears well, and was readily dipt into all 

 manner of curious and fantastic shapes. When planted 

 singly on a lawn, and allowed to develope itself fully on 

 every side, the linden is one of the most beautiful of trees. 

 Its head then forms a fine pyramid of verdure, while its 

 lower branches sweep the ground and curve upwards in the 

 most pleasing form. For this reason, though the linden is 

 not a picturesque tree, it is very happily adapted for the 

 graceful landscape, as its whole contour is full, flowing, and 

 agreeable. The pleasant odor of its flowers is an addi- 

 tional recommendation, as well as its free growth and 

 handsome leaves. Were it not that of late it is so liable to 

 insects, we could hardly say too much in its praise as a fine 

 ornament for streets and public parks. There, its regular 

 form corresponds well -with the formality of the architecture; 

 its shade affords cool and pleasant walks, and the delightful 

 odor of its blossoms is doubly grateful in the confined air 

 of the city. Our basswood has rather less of uniformity in 

 its outline than the European lindens, but the general form 

 is the same. 



The American lime, or basswood (Tilia Americana), is 



the most robust tree of the genus, and produces much 



10 



