4 
habit nor the production of seed is objectionable. They 
are best as park and lawn trees, to be admired from a 
little distance, and not planted too close to the house. 
The falling pollen and petals sifting through the windows 
may complicate house cleaning. 
BEECH 
These are trees best suited for the lawn and larger 
gardens. They would be unsatisfactory as a street tree 
because they produce a ^round wide-spreading top when 
grown away from their native woods. The ornamental forms 
of the European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) are less exacting 
in their requirements, than our native ones. There are no 
finer ornamental trees than some of the Copper and Purple 
Beeche^. If you have room and patience, some specimen of 
Beech should be planted. Few trees have a finer silhou- 
ette in winter. The dropping seeds are not objection- 
able. The fall coloration is a light-yellow and pleas- 
ing, and no very serious pests occur in this territory. 
Beeches are somewhat slow in their annual growth. But 
with patience and a great deal of mulch, the Beech will 
be found a satisfactory subject. 
BIRCH 
The Birches include some of the most spectacular 
lawn trees. Some are distinctive because of the snow- 
white bark. A few with graceful pendulous branching have 
no rivals and the winter habit of all species is most in- 
teresting. Unfortunately, the best of the White Birches 
are not happy in the Middle West. In fact, all varieties 
are short-lived in this area, except the one which is 
native {Betula nigra), the Red or River Birch of our 
river banks. If planted on very good soil and suppiiea 
with ample water, the Birches will all warrant planting, 
even if their life-span is quite short. There are many 
varieties available from nurseries. All of them are in 
t^resting, and all are worth a trial. Their greatest 
enemy is the hot dry summer. When a specimen begins 
fail, maintenance is of little value. But they should be 
grown in the garden for their graceful habit and love y 
yellow fall coloration, if for no other reason. 
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