146 The American Flower Garden 



October sky; or when the smooth, silvery gray trunk and branches 

 are softly etched against the snow ? 



THE BEST OF THE ORNAMENTAL DECIDUOUS TREES FOR LAWNS 



AND GARDENS 



ASH, WEEPING (Fraxinus excelsior, var. pendula). 50 feet. Best tall 

 canopy tree. Round-spreading top, forming an ideal shady arbour 

 or summer house. Grows rapidly, spreading 50 feet. Give 

 ample room for development. Unsuitable for small gardens. 

 Attacked by a fungus, but not seriously injured by it. 



BAY, SWEET, SWAMP, OR WHITE. See MAGNOLIA. 



BEECH, AMERICAN (Fagus ferrugined). , EUROPEAN (F. sylvaticd). 



80 feet. The former makes the largest tree, long-lived, with 

 smooth, light-gray bark, and remarkably pretty yellowish foliage 

 in the spring. Edible nuts. The European beech is more compact, 



slower in growth, and has many varieties: , FERN-LEAVED 



(var. beteropbylla). Foliage finely cut. The most deeply cut of 

 all the beeches; leaves divided clear to the midrib. Young 

 leaves tendril-like. Plant in open, where outline is seen against 



the sky. Also desirable near dwelling houses. , RIVERS'S 



(var. purpurea Riversi). Dark purplish maroon. The best dark- 

 leaved tree. Absolutely hardy, while the paler, purple beech is 

 not. Branches low down. Grand lawn specimen tree, with sym- 

 metrical head. Colour varies, so select dark-coloured specimens, 



which are the hardiest. , WEEPING (var. penduld). 50 feet. 



Pendulous, irregularly odd-looking, but not freakish. Branches 

 have billowy effect. Slow-growing and long-lived. Can be planted 

 in conspicuous places. 



BIRCH (Betula alba). 80 feet. Small, light-green foliage; silvery, almost 

 white> bark. One of the most picturesque trees, but needing a 

 background, preferably evergreens; rapid grower even in thin, dry 

 soil. Most effective medium-sized tree in the spring. , CUT- 

 LEAVED (var. pendula laciniatd). 65 feet. Most graceful of the 

 cut-leaved trees; slender, pendulous branches. The full character 

 of this tree is not seen for several years. Leader always erect, giving 

 spire-like outline. 



