DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 121 



ing, in the absence of foliage. The broad-leaved European 

 lime, is the finest for shade and ornament. The whitish 

 foliage of Tilia alba, which probably is also a variety, has 

 a beautiful appearance, somewhat like the Abele tree, in a 

 gentle breeze. 



These trees grow well on any good friable soil, and readily 

 endure transplantation. They bear trimming remarkably 

 well ; and when but little root is obtained the head may be 

 shortened in proportion, and the tree will soon make vigor- 

 ous shoots again. All the species are easily increased by 

 layers. 



The Beech Tree. Fagus. 



Nat. Ord. Corylaces. Lin. Syst. Moncecia, Polyandria* 



The beech is a large, compact, and lofty tree, with a gray- 

 ish bark and finely divided spray, and is a common inhabi-- 

 tant of the forest in all temperate climates. In the United 

 States, this tree is generally found congregated in very great 

 quantities, wherever the soil is most favourable; hundreds 

 of acres being sometimes covered with this single kind of tim- 

 ber. Such tracts are familiarly known as " beech woods." 

 The leaves of the beach are remarkably thin in texture, 

 glazed and shining on the upper surface, and so thickly set 

 upon the numerous branches, that it forms the darkest and 

 densest shade of any of our deciduous forest trees. It ap- 

 pears to have been highly valued by the ancients as a shade 

 tree ; and Virgil says in its praise, in a well-known Eclogue : 



"Tityre, tu, patulae recubans sub tegmine/agfi, 

 Sylvestrem tenui musam meditaris avena." 



It bears a small compressed nut or mast, oily and sweet, 

 which once was much valued as an article of food. The 

 most useful purpose to which we have heard of their being 



16 



