330 DECIDUOUS TREES. 



SO great size, but has 'the same dense, glossy foliage, and in conse- 

 quence of its rare color may be designated as one of the best trees 

 for even a small collection. There is much difference in the bright- 

 ness and duration of the purple color, in different specimens of the 

 purple beech, ancj planters should select trees from the nursery 

 rows at midsummer to be more certain of their character. 



The Copper-colored Beech, F. gifrea, is a sub-variety of the 

 purple beech, the young shoots of which are of a darker and duller 

 color. " It makes a splendid appearance in the sunshine, and when 

 the leaves are greatly ruffled with the wind ; but in a state of rcr 

 pose, and on a cloudy day, it can hardly be distinguished from the 

 common green-leaved beech." 



The Variegated-leaved Beeches, F. variegata, and others, are 

 pretty and peculiar when the leaves first appear, but at midsummer 

 the variegation of the leaves, as far as it is apparent, only serves to 

 give them an unhealthy appearance. 



The Fern-leaved and Cut-leaved Beeches. F. heterophylla 

 and F. lacimata. — The peculiarity of these varieties is in the fern- 

 like delicacy of their growing foliage, the young spray of which 

 pushes out from the preceding year's growth like filaments or ten- 

 drils, giving the tree an exquisitely delicate sky-outline. Their 

 foliage is of a lighter tone than that of any of the other beeches. 

 H. W. Sargent, in his Supplement to Downing's I^andscape Garden- 

 ing, thus describes the former ; " The fern-leaved beech is a great 

 favorite with us, and we hardly know a prettier or more attractive 

 tree, or one less known or planted. If we could plant but half a 

 dozen trees, this would certainly be one of the first. It has the 

 close round habit of the beech, with a pleasing green and glaucous 

 color, and the most tiny and delicate foliage, the persistency of 

 which would make it very desirable for topiary work, as it bears 

 the shears better than any deciduous tree we know of" Loudon 

 thinks it " more curious than beautiful." We have seen some of 

 the best specimens in this country, and can hardly concur with Mr. 

 Sargent in ranking it as one of the most interesting half dozen 



