DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 169 



States is it more multiplied than in the western country, 

 and nowhere is its vegetation more luxuriant than on the 

 banks of the Ohio. There, sometimes alone and sometimes 

 mingled with the willow, which is found along these waters, 

 it contributes singularly, by its magnificent foliage, to the 

 embellishment of the scene. The brilliant white of the 

 leaves beneath, forms a striking contrast with the bright 

 green above ; and the alternate reflection of the two surfaces 

 in the water, heightening the beauty of this wonderful 

 moving mirror, aids in forming an enchanting picture, 

 which, during my long excursions in a canoe in these re- 

 gions of solitude and silence, I contemplated with unwearied 

 admiration."* , There, on those fine, deep, alluvial soils, it 

 often attains twelve or fifteen feet in circumference. 



As an ornamental variety, the Silver-leaved maple is one 

 of the most valuable. It is exceedingly rapid in its growth, 

 often making shoots six feet long in a season ; and the 

 silvery hue of its foliage, when stirred by the wind, as well 

 as its fine, half drooping habit, render it highly interesting 

 to the planter. Admirable specimens of this species may 

 be seen in the wide streets of Burlington, N. J. 



The Moose wood, or Striped maple (A. striatum), is a small 

 tree with beautifully striped bark. It is often seen on the 

 mountains which border the Hudson, but abounds most 

 profusely in the north of the continent. Acer nigrum is 

 the Black sugar tree of Genesee. A. Negundo,^ the Ash- 

 leaved maple, has handsome pinnated foliage of a light 

 green hue ; it forms a pleasing tree of medium size. 

 These are our principal native species J 



* N. A. Sylva, i. 214. t Negundo fraxinifoUum. 



t Mr. Douglas has discovered a very superb maple {A. macrophyllum), oa 

 the Columbia river, vfith very large leaves, and fine fragrant yellow blossoms 



