104 HOW TO PLAN THE HOME GROUNDS 



undoubtedly point to successful fall planting of birches. 

 And yet we must have the birch, for in spite of these 

 drawbacks it is without doubt one of the most precious 

 and important elements of the landscape, whether we see 

 it singly growing, alongside a great rock or against a 

 background of evergreens, or in clusters springing from 

 one general center. In order to secure success, and it 

 is not really a difficult tree to transplant if care is taken, 

 we should see that the young fibrous roots are not injured 

 in digging or allowed to dry up during transportation to 

 the place where they are to be planted. The happiest 

 situations for birches are along the shores of streams, or 

 in the midst of shrubs on the smallest village lot, where 

 they present a most distinguished effect, and serve to vary 

 the outline and sky line of the bordering shrubbery in 

 the most delightful manner. 



No one, I fancy, will dispute that the beeches are 

 among the most richly endowed of shade trees. They 

 have great longevity, and exceeding beauty of trunk, 

 branch, twig, and leaf. The trunk has rounded contours 

 and greenish gray tints that are attractive in all species 

 and varieties, whether European or American. The twigs 

 are sharply pointed and quaint, especially on American 

 beeches in the winter time, and the leaves are rich and 

 glossy, and group themselves in effective masses. 



Fagus ferruginea, the American beech, has always 

 seemed, for some unaccountable reason, to be neglected. 

 It is extremely interesting with its light-gray bark and 

 layer-like masses of elegant-looking foliage. 



Purple beeches and weeping beeches are renowned for 

 beauty, but they should be used sparingly, as their some- 

 what abnormal appearance, beautiful as it is, partially 

 unfits them for blending harmoniously ^^^th the general 



