32 



Garden and Forest. 



[March 14, 1888. 



FiK. 7.— A Wcf|,ii^< Betcli. 



native forms and in tlie hylirids wliich are readilv obtained 

 from them. A. /oiigissima is a still more soutliern species, 

 found in the mountains bordering the Rio Grande in western 

 Texas and those of the north-eastern provinces of Mexico. It 

 is, indeed, probably the most southern species of the srenus, 

 inasmuch as the Guatemala habitat ascril^ed to A. Sh'iuuri 

 is very doubtful. A. Skinneri was cultivated m European 

 gardens to some extent about forty years ago and Avas believed 

 to have originated from seeds collected in Guatemala by Mr. 

 G. U. Skinner. It has, however, been recently discovered at 

 home in the mountains of Chihuahua, both bv Dr. Edward 

 Palmer and by Mr. C. G. Pringle, and the probabilities are that 

 the seeds were sent from there, instead of from Guatemala, bv 

 Mr. John Potts who had charge of the Mint at Cliiliuahua in 

 1842. It is known that he and his lirotlier made collections in 

 that region and sent plants to England at about that time. 



A. longissiina is distinguished from the allied species not onlv 

 by the greater length of the spur, but by its more contracted 

 orifice and by the narrower petals. The flower opens upward, 

 spreading widely, and is pale yellow or straw color, or some- 

 tinies nearly white or tinged 'with red. The plant has been 

 raised from seed in the Cambridge Botanic Garden. It proves 

 to be more tender than our common species, as was to be ex- 

 pected, but tliere should be no difficulty in cultivating it 

 throughout the Southern States. 



In view of the recognized adaptation of flowers and insects to 

 each other for mutual benefit, it is an interesting question what 

 long-tongued moths have developed side l.iy side with this 

 long-spurred flower, and how far the plant is really dependent 

 upon such insects for fertilization. ' .?. W. 



A Weeping Beech. 



The so-called weeping trees, or trees with distinctly pendu- 

 lous branches, are not of the first importance in general land- 

 scape work. Their peculiarities of form are so striking that 

 when planted with otlier trees they invite attention to them- 

 selves, instead of helping to increase the effecti%'eness of the 

 group. A Weeping Willow on a wood border is the first thing 

 to arrest the eye, and it seems to break the masses of foliage 

 .and belittle their effect instead of gi\'ing continuity arid 

 strength to their outlines. As individual specimens, however, 

 these trees may become objects of great beauty and attractive- 

 ness. The Weeping Beech, a variety of the European Beech, 

 is disting\iished among them by an eccentric vigor which is 

 seen in the sturdy upward and outward growth of some of 

 the larg-er branches, a vigor which is in marked contrast 

 with the pensile haViit of the smaller branches. These trees 

 vary greatly in form ; some being tall and slender, others low 

 and broad, and others still, assuming the most ]>icturesque 

 shapes. The tree in the illustration stands in the grounds of 

 Mr. Samuel C. Jackson, in Flushing, Long Island, and in what 

 was originally a part of the old Parsons nursery. It is forty-four 

 years old, and its vigor is proved by its healthfid appearance as 

 well as by the dimensions it has already attained. It is about 

 sixty feet high and the circumference of the circle where the 

 hanging branches meet the ground is 180 feet. The trunk is 6 

 feet in circumference three feet from the ground, and a man 

 standing by it is perfectly concealed from those without the 

 circle l:)y the thick curtain of foliage that hangs about him on 

 everv side. 



