Cboice Xlrees anb Sbrubs 315 



as those of human beings. A rhododendron in good 

 health usually termed hardy, will die and nearby a kind 

 considered tender will survive. These surprises occur 

 frequently with trees and shrubs and should not dis- 

 courage any one. The dogwood, the birch, and the 

 rhododendron are notable instances of the vagaries of 

 plant nature. 



The Virgilia lutea (Cladrastis tinctoria), the yeUow- 

 wood, is a beautiful tree in midstunmer with its smooth 

 bark like a beech and graceful branches bearing long 

 racemes of sweet-scented, white wistaria-like flowers in 

 June. Not unlike the VirgiHa lutea, especially in its 

 leguminous character, is the laburnum or golden chain. 

 It is perfectly hardy, and though seldom seen in this 

 cotmtry, is a favourite in Europe. Francis Thompson 

 writes: 



Mark yonder how the long laburnum drips 

 Its jocund spilth of fire, its honey of wild flame. 



The catalpa has some good quaHties for summer 

 besides its rapid growth, which is sometimes an injury 

 to it. The flowers are white and large and make a 

 show in June. It is not a first-class shade tree any 

 more than the silver maple, poplar, ailanthus (in some 

 respects the toughest and finest of trees, barring the 

 odour), the weeping wiUows, and the American ash. 

 The beech is the shade tree par excellence for the lawn, 

 but not for the street. Its unsurpassed beauty may 

 not be gainsaid. The trunk and bark are wonderful, 

 and the foliage is equally fine, especially the purple 



