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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS 



BETULA 



of the woodland artist. They flourish in 

 a light sandy loamy soil, but practically 

 grow well in all ordinary garden soils. 

 Many kinds flourish exceedingly well 

 near the banks of lakes, streams, rivers, 

 &o., and in such positions add a good 

 deal to the beauty of the landscape. 

 They are as a rule best increased by 

 sowing weU-ripened and thoroughly dried 

 seeds in March. The seeds are not 

 covered with soil, but pressed into it with 

 the feet. During the summer the seed 

 beds should be shaded with branches if 

 necessary, and the seedlings may be 

 transplanted the following spring. 



Layering is also used in connection 

 with low bushy forms in the autumn, 

 while rare and choice varieties are in- 

 creased by grafting or budding on stocks 

 of the commoner kinds, the grafting being 

 done about March, and the budding in 

 June or July. The amateur, however, 

 unless he is desirous of experimenting for 

 himself, will save a good deal of time by 

 obtaining weU-estabhshed trees or bushes 

 from a nurseryman, instead of trying to 

 raise them in his own garden. The 

 foUovTing is a list of the most ornamental 

 Birches in cultivation. 



B. alba {Silver, White, or Comvion 

 Birch). — A beautiful native tree varying 

 in height &om a small shrub in the 

 extreme north to a graceful tree 50-80 ft. 

 in more southern localities, with a trunk 

 8-24 in. in diameter, and having a sUvery- 

 white flaky bark. Leaves long-stalked 

 ovate acute doubly serrate, 1-3 in. long, 

 with broad stipules. Flowers in Apnl 

 and May ; male catkins drooping ^-2 in. 

 long; female catkins shorter, and some- 

 what erect. Fruit roundish, with a 

 notched wing. 



There are many forms of the Silver 

 Birch, the most striking being alho- 

 purpurea, the leaves of which are of a 

 lustrous rich purple hue above, whitish 

 beneath; dalecarlica, leaves deeply and 

 pinnately divided into toothed lobes; 

 foVUa va/riegatis, leaves blotched with 

 yellowish-white ; laciniata pendula, as 

 the name indicates, has a drooping habit, 

 and deeply laciniated dark green leaves. 

 There are a few forms of this, that known 

 as Young's Weeping Birch being most 

 generally grown in nurseries; pendula, 

 the Weeping Birch, a well-marked variety 

 distinguished from the type by its more 

 slender, smoother, and drooping branches ; 



pendula Toimgi is a stiU finer weeping 

 Birch ; fastigiata has erect branches, and 

 resembles the Lombardy Poplar in habit ; 

 av/rea, has yellowish leaves ; pwrpwrea, 

 purple ones; va/riegata, leaves blotched 

 with white ; and urUcafoUa, with deeply 

 laciniated sharply toothed, hairy leaves. 



The Birch is a rapid growing tree, but 

 unfortunately does not attain a great age, 

 and seldom increases much in size after 

 30 years. As a lawn tree or for parks 

 and large gardens it is very ornamental, 

 quite as much in a leafless as in a leafy 

 state, owing to its smooth white bark and 

 graceful twiggy branches. This species 

 grows nearer the North Pole than any 

 other tree, and is the only one existing in 

 Greenland, where it is, however, much 

 stimted in growth. The bark and wood 

 have a commercial value in many coun- 

 tries. 



Culture dc. as above. 



B. Bhojpattra A Himalayan Birch 



about 50 ft. high, with pale brown bark 

 and oblong acute serrate leaves heart- 

 shaped at the base, and having hairy 

 stalks and nerves. Flowers in May ; 

 female catkins erect cylindrical oblong. 

 Fruit narrow-winged. This tree is best 

 in southern parts of the country in warm 

 sheltered places, and is also known as B. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



B. davurica. — A beautiful Siberian tree 

 30-40 ft. high, with smooth ovate un- 

 equally toothed leaves, narrowed at the 

 base. Flowers in February and March 

 in whitish-brown catkins. The variety 

 pa/rvifolia is distinguished from the type 

 by its smaller leaves. 



Culture dtc. as above. 



B. Ermani. — A pretty Japanese Birch 

 resembling B. alba in having white- 

 barked trunks. The leaves are heart- 

 shaped and tapering to a point, Vfith 

 irregularly toothed margins. The male 

 catkins are 2-3 in. long, and fuUy ripe 

 with poUen by the end of March or April. 



Culture dc. as above. 



B. fruticosa. — A shrubby Birch from 

 Eastern Siberia, growing only 5-6 ft. 

 high in moist situations, but taller on the 

 hillsides. Leaves smooth, roundish ovate, 

 nearly equally serrate. Flowers in Feb- 

 ruary and March, whitish-brown. 



Culture <tc. as above. 



