VOL. VIII. ] 



THE 



lit l^f tittHif if t. 



NOVEMBER, 1885. 



[No. 11. 



THE PURPLE-LEAVED PLUM. 



After all there is something very 

 attractive in the foliage of our purple- 

 leaved trees and shrubs when they are 

 so planted as to bring it in contrast 

 ■with the green leaves of other trees, 

 forming a back ground upon which the 

 rich coloring is projected and with 

 which it is contrasted. We have a 

 few very fine purple foliaged plants 

 that are well worthy of attention. The 

 Purple-leaved Beech has been in cultiva- 

 tion for many years, but it is so difficult 

 to transplant a tree of any size and 

 have it thi'ive well that few specimens 

 of it are to be found. Were our plant- 

 ers willing to abide the day of small 

 things, and be content to plant it when 

 its size is so diminutive as to make it 

 seem insignihcant, it would more fre- 

 quently survive and in a few years 

 become a beautiful ornament. A very 

 fine specimen of this tree we saw some 

 years ago in the grounds of Senator 

 Macpherson, at Yorkville ; and, if no 

 calamity has befallen it, by this time it 

 must be a prominent and beautiful 

 feature of the park. 



The Purple-leaved Birch is of more 

 recent introduction, and well worthy of 

 the attention of ornamental planters. 

 Less difficult to ti-ansplant than the 



beech, it is much more likely to succeed 

 with ordinary care. In habit it is as 

 vigorous as any of its fellows, and its 

 young shoots are brilliant in their color- 

 ing throughout the season of growth. 

 Even the bark of the branches and twigs 

 is of a dark purjile hue. In our grounds 

 the trees have been perfectly hardy, not 

 the slightest injury I'esulting from sum- 

 mer's heat or winter's cold ; indeed it 

 would seem to be able to stand by the 

 side of our native birches in our most 

 northern latitudes. 



In those parts of the land where the 

 peach tree can be siiccessfully grown, 

 the Blood-leaved Peach can be planted 

 as confidently as any other peach tree. 

 It is said to have been found growing 

 in Kentucky, on the battlefield of Fort 

 Donelson. Were this the age of myth- 

 ology we should, no doubt, be told that 

 the blood of some hero who fell on that 

 aceldama had nurtured the young sap- 

 ling, and so dyed its natural juices that 

 the very leaves ai'e red. If this tx-ee 

 be well pruned back every spring it 

 will form a handsome compact head, 

 and the young growth will be of a deep 

 blood color throughout the summer. 



Besides these there is a purple-leaved 

 Oak, whose dark purple leaves retain 



