APRIL. 189 



divisions, with live or six stamens. The lower flowers have, 

 generally, stamens only, and are barren. The upper flowers 

 are succeeded by a fruit, about the size of a wild cherry, of a 

 brown or brownish purple color, slightly fleshy, very sweet, 

 containing a large stone. Mr. Emerson states that the tree 

 " might be described to one, who wished to be able to recog- 

 nize it, as an elm, bearing purple, (?) sweet cherries, which 

 continued on the stem through the winter." 



The Celtis prefers a cool and shady situation, and a deep 

 fertile soil. In such a locality it attains its amplest dimen- 

 sions, and forms a most beautiful tree. Like the maple and 

 elm, however, it will accommodate itself to less propitious 

 circumstances, but its branches are more dense, and the whole 

 tree more compact and stiff in appearance. Its growth is not 

 very rapid, being, upon an average, about a foot a year. 

 Numerous specimens are mentioned by Loudon as growing 

 in the vicinity of London, and the average height, at the age 

 of ten years, was about twelve feet. Probably in our warmer 

 summers its growth would be somewhat more rapid. Young 

 trees in our groimds appear to grow about as fast as the Rock 

 maple. 



It is propagated by seeds and by layers, the best mode be- 

 ing by seeds when they can be procured. They should be 

 planted in the autumn as with other seeds, ill good prepared 

 ground, and have the same culture after the plants are up, — 

 transplanting them the second year into the nursery rows. 

 When raised from layers they should not be detached from 

 the parent tree nntil the second year. 



As an ornamental tree, for lawns or pleasure grounds, the 

 Celtis holds the highest rank. The slight droop of its slender 

 branches, the deep green of its summer foliage, the lively as- 

 pect of its gay yellow leaves in autumn, and the abundance 

 of its spray in winter, covered with its numerous berries, 

 render it a peculiarly attractive tree at all seasons of the year. 

 Let it henceforth claim that attention from every lover of our 

 indigenous trees which its combined merits demand. 



