IV. 



THE HORSE CHESTNUTS AND MAPLES. 



The line drawn on the maps between Essex County 

 and the region to the south of it is almost as distinctly 

 drawn between the floras of these regions. The in- 

 fluence of the Gulf Stream renders the climate of 

 southern New England warmer while that of the Labra- 

 dor current renders our climate cooler. Our fauna and 

 flora are thus more closely related to those of more 

 northern regions, and we are prevented from cultivating 

 with success many plants which are perfectly hardy as 

 far north as Providence, R. I., and some even which 

 succeed well enough at Brookline, near Boston. 



The paulownia is one such, a showy tree resembling 

 a catalpa. The beautiful varieties of Japanese retinos- 

 poras and maples (Acer polymorphum) come under 

 this head, although in certain soils and situations they 

 can occasionally be made to flourish, notably in Mr. 

 Geo. Chase's garden, on Lafayette street, where there 

 are fine examples of both maples and retinosporas, and 

 just over the fence at the corner of Flint and Warren 

 streets, Judge Brigham has a fine specimen of one of 

 the red cut leaved forms of the Japanese maple. One 

 of the most conspicuous illustrations of these forbidden 

 trees is the holly (Ilex opaca). Abundant on the 

 South Shore, it seems impossible to cultivate it here 

 even with the greatest care. We have, however, three 

 native shrubby hollies, one of which, under the name 



