84 



CA NA DIA lY HORTIC UL TURIST. 



THE CUT-LEAVED WEEPING BIRCH. 



(Di-tula Alba Pcndida.) 



B V SIMON ROY, B K R L I N . 



THIS beautiful tree, although of 

 comparatively recent introduc- 

 tion into Canada, is gradually receiv- 

 ing marked approbation from all who 

 take an interest in arborial decora- 

 tion. Its symmetrical form of growtli, 



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i.-iJS^&.H 



Si 



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Fig. 33.— Cut-Leaved Weeping Birch. 



its slender pendulous twigs, often six 

 feet in length, hanging from the 

 branches, sometimes twisted together 

 into natural wreaths, which sway grace- 

 fully with the wind, its marked and 

 deeply cut foliage, its shining white 



bai'k, and its fragrant scent in the early 

 morning after a fall of dew, or shower 

 of rain, all combine to make it the most 

 attractive object on the lawn ; but to 

 be viewed to advantage it must be 

 planted singly, with sufficient space not 

 to come in contact with other trees. 



For cemetery planting no deciduous 

 tree can be more appropriate, even sui'- 

 passing in appearance the common 

 weeping willow (^Salix Bahylonica) of 

 historic fame, on which the captive Is- 

 raelites hung their harps by the banks 

 of the Euphrates, after singing their 

 mournful native melodies. 



The birch, just alluded to, was dis- 

 covered in a bed of seedlings of the 

 common weeping birch in a nursery in 

 Germany, and being pistillate does not 

 produce seed of itself, unless in close 

 proximity to a monaecious birch ; and 

 even then the seedlings might revert to 

 original conditions. It is vvhat may be 

 termed a Insus nahirff, and can only 

 be perpetuated artificially by \vorking 

 on seedlings of other birches. 



All birches, either indigenous or 

 exotic, are very desiraljle, either planted 

 singly or grouped with other trees. The 

 white barked varieties produce a fine 

 contrast with those of darker colors. 



The natural order Betulacse (birches) 

 is indigenous only to the northern 

 hemisphere, and mostly confined to the 

 temperate zone ; some dwarf varieties, 

 however, have been met with on the 

 tundras of America and Asia, within 

 the arctic circle 



