On * The Point ”—Second Excursion 
one secret of the attractiveness of maple, elm, beech, and 
oak, as compared with catalpa, persimmon, osage orange, 
sour gum, and sassafras. Magnolias and rhododendrons 
have entire leaves also, but the effect is somewhat offset 
by their rich green and heavy texture. There are com- 
paratively few species of plants to whose leaves Nature 
has not taken the pains to give the finish of a fringed 
edge. Let one examine a dozen leaves of different 
species in this one respect alone, and it will be a revela- 
tion of nature’s skill in ornamentation before unrealized. 
In my opinion, the peculiar serrate edge in the elm is 
the most elegant of any native tree. 
Locusts.—Of native ornamental trees none are 
more generally cultivated and distinctive in their whole 
atmosphere than the locusts, a pleasing text for any tree- 
lover to dilate upon. Two of them being brothers 
(botanically), and the third a first cousin, we had best 
consider them together, the better to note their points 
of contrast, although only the common locust is found 
upon ‘‘ The Point.’’ 
As regards foliage, by far the finest is the honey-lo- 
cust, which is indeed unequalled among all our trees for 
its exquisite feathery verdure, resulting from the minute 
dissection of its decompound leaf, forming the most airy 
sprays of foliage imaginable, emphasized by the often 
imposing altitude, and an extremely dark-colored bark 
—a most striking union of virility and grace. Compare 
it for a moment with any other pinnate-leaved tree, like 
the butternut or ash, and its extreme delicacy is at 
once evident. It is in the middle of May that the mul- 
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