FOREST TREES. 



419 



At " The Oaks," in the next parish, formerly the seat of Lord 

 Derby, "J. B. 1778" is clearly visible on an aged beech-tree, cut by 

 the unfortunate General Burgoyne who built part- of the house nearly 

 one hundred years ago. 



A remarkable variety, the Copper Beech {F. sylvatica purpurea, 

 fig. 944), reputed to have been found in a wood in Germany, is a 

 very striking object amongst other trees. One or two may with 

 great advantage be planted. Immediately adjoining my garden, there 

 are two beautiful trees, which I greatly admire. A single purple 

 beech is very handsome, but it does not grow freely in all situations. 

 A very fine single specimen grew so rapidly in the grounds of 

 Mr. Beadnell, at Tottenham, that it kept the air and light from the 

 house, so that he was ultimately compelled to cut it down. Specimens 

 of fine colour are multiplied by inarching. 



Fig. 944.— Copper Beech. 



Fig. 944 a. — Pendulous Beech. 



Fig. 945. — Birch. 



I also have a very singular variety called the Pendulous Beech. It 

 is of a drooping habit ; and if a shoot be artificially stretched out at 

 right angles, the branches grow downwards. One such tree in a suitable 

 spot is an object agreeable to the eye. Various specimens of beech 

 exhibit a variation in their habit. Some trees grow with their branches 

 erect, whilst in others they are more or less pendulous. 



One of our more hardy trees — which grows well on the driest 

 soils, and yet by no means objects to a wet situation — is the Birch 

 (fig. 945), "the Lady of the Woods." We have them to the south 



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