CHAPTER VL 



FORM OF THE TREE. 



Columnar form of Lombardy Poplar and Cypress — Elongated 

 conical form of Pines and Firs — Transition to cylindroidal 

 form of Silver Fir — Transition to ovoid or oblong form of 

 Pines — Broadly pyramidal-conic form — Change to umbrella- 

 like form — Apple-type — Type of Rowan, Willow, and Lime — 

 Development of Pine-tree — Development of the Maple-type — 

 Development of Lilac-type — Development of the Horse-chestnut- 

 type — Development of the types of the Rowan, Willow and 

 Poplar, Lime, and Hazel — Development of the types of Plane 

 and Oak. 



Proceeding now to an examination of the forms of trees, 

 it has long been obvious to all observers that several 

 common types of form may be based on the general 

 contour of the crown of foliage, or, in the case of de- 

 ciduous trees, of the head of branches. 



Many trees are relatively tall and narrow, and conform 

 to shapes represented by a columnar or more or less 

 cylindrical obelisk, gradually tapering from a slightly 

 dilating or broadened base to a somewhat narrower or 

 even tapering apex. Striking examples are the Lombardy 

 Poplar (Fig. 4) and the Cypresses (Fig. 3). But a 

 tendency to the same general outline is also common 

 among Pines and Firs, usually modified in so far that the 



