NEWER DECIDUOUS TREES AND SHRUBS. 461 



only two feet high, but whether this is the habit of this variety, 

 or accidental, we are not prepared to say. 



We have also here (received some years ago from Mr. Rivers, 

 we think), a dwarf variety, called Dwarf prolific, which has 

 the merit of fruiting when a small shrub. 



Cercis. JUDAS TREE. 



The only addition to this variety, which has appeared 

 within the past few years, is Cercis foliis-variegata (the Varie- 

 gated-leaved Judas) ; the leaves blotched and streaked with 

 white, and sometimes pink and white splashes ; desirable, but 

 at present very rare. We procured our plants, we believe, 

 from France. 



Fagm. BEECH. 



There are several varieties of this tree, which have been in- 

 troduced into cultivation within the last few years, well de- 

 serving of notice, and some of them very curious and interest- 

 ing ; among these is, Fagus laciniata, called also F. asplenifolia 

 and F. incita, and known in the nursuries as Cut-leaved, Fern- 

 leaved and Various-leaved beech. We have all these plants 

 under the different names, but, except the occasional sport, 

 which the beech is peculiarly liable to, we believe them to be 

 identical ; sometimes resembling a fern, which is the most usual, 

 and others again with leaves very oddly cut and shredded, 

 as it were, by insects. The Fern-leaved beech, commonly so- 

 called, is a great favorite with us, and we hardly know a pret- 

 tier or- more attractive tree, or one less known or planted ; if 

 we could plant but half a dozen trees this would certainly be 

 one of the first. It has the close round habit of the beech with 

 a pleasing green and glaucous color, and the most tiny and deli- 

 cate foliage, the persistency of which would make it very 

 desirable for topiary -work, as it bears the shears better lhan any 

 deciduous tree we know of. Its maximum height is forty to 

 fifty feet, but we have seen no specimen in this country over 

 twelve to fifteen feet ; its average annual growth being twelve 

 to fifteen inches. 



