DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 197 



xVU these trees are such superb objects upon a lawn, in 

 their rich summer garniture of luxuriant foliage, and large 

 odoriferous flowers, that they need no further recommenda- 

 tion from us to insure their regard and admiration from all 

 persons who have room for their culture. If possible, situa- 

 tions somewhat sheltered either by buildings, or other trees, 

 should be chosen for all the species, except the Cucumber 

 Magnolia, which thrives well in almost any aspect not di- 

 rectly open to violent gales of wind. 



The White-wood or Tulip Tree. Liriodendron. 



Nat. Ord. Magnoliaceae. Liru Syst. Polyandria, Polygynia. 



The Tulip tree belongs to the same natural order as the 

 Magnolias, and is not inferior to most of the latter in all that 

 entitles them to rank among our very finest forest trees. 



The taller Magnolias, as we have already remarked, do 

 not grow naturally within 100 or 150 miles of the sea-coast ; 

 and the Tulip tree may be considered as, in some measure, 

 supplying their place in the middle Atlantic states. West of 

 the Connecticut river, and south of the sources of the Hudson, 

 this fine tree maybe often seen reaching in warm and deep allu- 

 vial soils, 80 or 90 feet in height. But in the western states, 

 where indeed the growth of forest trees is astonishingly vig- 

 orous, this tree far exceeds that altitude. The elder Mi- 

 chaux mentions several which he saw in Kentucky, that 

 were fifteen and sixteen feet in girth ; and his son confirms 

 the measurement of one, three miles and a half from Louis- 

 ville, which at five feet from the ground, was found to be 

 twenty-two feet and six inches in circumference, with a cor- 

 responding elevation of 130 feet. 



The foliage is rich and glossy, and has a very peculiar 



