Trees, Shrubs and Vines 
in regard to its leaf-structure; whether to make it a 
series of simple, minute, narrow leaves strung along the 
sides of the newly growing thread-like branch, or to 
consider it a genuine pinnate leaf, as in the honey- 
locust, she was plainly in doubt: and so are we; for 
many of the long leaf-stems (or branches) are dropped in 
fall, and some are retained. Are we here looking upon 
the very process of evolution in the ascent from the 
simple to the compound leaf? Better to think this, 
probably, than to suppose it a case of nature’s being in 
a quandary. 
The cypress is native to the Southern States, and 
yields valuable timber for house-finishings, etc. Like 
alders and all natures of good taste it lingers by the 
water’s edge, and possibly finds pleasure in seeing its 
tall form ever imaged in the mirror. 
HoRNBEAM.—One of our smallest trees, often a shrub, 
is the hornbeam, or ironwood (Carpinus americana). 
With a fine appreciation of the special affinities of vege- 
table growth everywhere apparent, the landscape-gar- 
dener has given to the water-loving hornbeam its favor- 
ite place upon the shore of pond and lake. When trained 
into symmetry it is a comparative failure, but in a semi- 
straggling habit it is singularly effective, as may be seen 
on the east side of the ‘‘ Pond.’’ The leaf is quite elm-like 
in appearance, and the peculiarly flat sprays show many 
tiny leaves intermingled, an effect seldom seen except 
in the hornbeam and an allied species. The bark is a 
more ready index of the tree than in almost any other 
species—dark ash, smooth as a beech, and with strange 
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