r2 TREES OF NEW ENGLAND. 



in pairs, at the end of a short peduncle ; involucre 4-lobed, 

 fringed with prickly scales ; calyx with six awl-shaped lobes ; 

 ovary 3-celled ; styles 3. 



Fruit. A prickly bur, thick, 4-valved, splitting nearly to 

 the base when ripe : nut sharply triangular, sweet, edible. 



Horticultural Value. Hardy throughout New England ; 

 grows well in any good soil, but prefers deep, rich, well- 

 drained loam ; usually obtainable in nurseries ; when fre- 

 quently transplanted, safely moved. Its- clean trunk and 

 limbs, deep shade, and freedom from insect pests make it 

 one of the most attractive of our large trees for use, sum- 

 mer or winter, in landscape gardening ; few plants, however, 

 will grow beneath it ; the bark is easily disfigured ; it has a 

 bad habit of throwing out suckers and is liable to be killed 

 by any injury to the roots. Propagated from the seed. The 

 purple beech, weegingj^ech, and fern-leaf beech are well- 

 known horticultural forms. 



PLATE XXXV. FAGUS FERRUGINEA. 



1. Winter buds. 



2. Flowering branch. 



3. Sterile flower. 



4. Fertile flower, 



5. Fruiting branch. 



6. Section of fruit. 



7. Nut. 



Castanea saliva, var. Americana, Watson and Coulter. 



Castanea dentata, Borkh. Castanea vesca, var. Americana, Michx. 

 CHESTNUT. 



Habitat and Range. In strong, well-drained soil ; pastures, 

 rocky woods, and hillsides. 



Ontario, common. 



Maine, southern sections, probably not indigenous north 

 of latitude 44 20' ; New Hampshire, Connecticut valley 

 near the river, as far north as Windsor, Vt. ; most abundant 

 in the Merrimac valley south of Concord, but occasional a 



