2i 4 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



bright green, irregularly margined with rich rose and pink. It is a dainty 

 variety of slender growth. A. p. septemlobum is a beautiful Maple with 

 cut leaves, and A. p. s. elegans is another handsome form. In spring 

 its leaves are delicate green, gradually passing through shades of pink and 

 rose to crimson. A. p. s. atropurpureum, with its crimson-purple leaves, 

 is highly ornamental, while those of the variety named laciniata are deep 

 green, flushed with rose and pink. A. p. s. marmoratum and A. p. s. 

 tricolor are also good. The dissectum group possesses fern-like leaves, the 

 colours of which are exceedingly rich and enduring. Those of the type 

 are bright green, ornatum bronze-purple, and roseo-marginatum purple- 

 bronze, stained with rose and white. 



The Silver Maple (A.dasycarpwri) from North America makes a beauti- 

 ful avenue tree, as it is of good growth, the leaves large, palmate, silvery 

 white on the under sides, and set on long footstalks. When disturbed 

 by the breeze they seem silvered all over. A, grandidendatum is useful 

 for its effectiveness ; it is of free growth. A. macrophyllum, also from 

 North America, is one of the best Maples for planting on gravelly soils, 

 as it makes excellent growth. Its bold leaves are bright green, and the 

 flowers and showy fruit are produced abundantly. A. circinatum is 

 another dry soil loving species. It is neat in habit, and forms a medium- 

 sized round-headed tree, and in autumn its bright scarlet leaves are 

 remarkably handsome. For this reason alone it deserves consideration. 

 The Sugar Maple (A. saccharinum) is of upright growth, vigorous and 

 handsome. Its leaves are large, bright green, and covered with a thick 

 glaucous hue on the under sides. The autumn tints are very fine. A. 

 rubrum is a well-known showy-leaved Acer, particularly in autumn, when 

 its foliage is heavily shaded with orange and scarlet. It is of elegant 

 habit, and often reaches a height of twenty-five feet or more when 

 planted in a position favourable to good growth. It makes considerable 

 headway in dry, hungry soil, and in spring, when displaying its clusters 

 of deep red flowers, it is one of the most striking of American Maples. 

 A. pennsylvanicum (the Snake-barked Maple), also known in gardens as 

 A. striatum, flourishes in dry soil and is quite distinct, as its bark is 

 freely striped with white. It is not often more than twenty-feet in 

 height, and its heart-shaped leaves are very beautiful. For general 

 effect A. pidum rubrum , sometimes labelled A. calchicum rubrum , should 

 be remembered. It is of free growth, and its bright green leaves change 

 to shades of purple and crimson in autumn a tree to plant for its autumn 

 colouring. 



All the varieties of A. Pseudo-platanus (Common Sycamore) are worthy 

 of mention, but only a few can be mentioned. The variety named 

 Leopoldi is fairly well known, and its silver variegated leaves and red 

 petioles are showy. Although of vigorous growth it can be kept within 

 bounds by a free use of the knife, the growth resulting from such treatment 

 being strong and the leaves highly coloured. Another variety (atropur- 

 pureum) is suitable for pleasure grounds. Its branches are stout, and the 

 leaves dark purple. The variety named elegantissimum variegatum is a 

 choice tree of vigorous growth. The large cream-coloured leaves are 



