DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 119 



shaped in form, and pleasing in colour. 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. 



When left to itself, and allowed to grow freely, the head soon 

 forms a regular rounded pyramid of foliage, highly pleasing 

 as a symmetrical object. It was a favourite tree in the an- 

 cient style of gardening, as it bore the shears well, and was 

 readily clipped into all manner of curious and fantastic 

 shapes. It is beautiful as a single object ; but is deficient in 

 those recesses and breaks of foliage, which are the leading 

 features of a picturesque tree. We can recommend it as well 

 adapted for planting near Grecian buildings of very regular 

 forms, as it will harmonize admirably with such structures ; 

 but, from its want of character and irregularity, it is not suit- 

 able for the neighbourhood of a varied or picturesque house. 

 The pleasant odour of its flowers, is also an additional 

 recommendation, as well as its free growth and handsome 

 leaves. After all, however, the linden is a true town tree, 

 and we cannot say too much in its praise as a fine ornament 

 for streets and public parks. There, its regular form cor- 

 responds well with the formality of the architecture ; its 

 shade affords cool and pleasant walks, and the delightful 

 odour 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. 



