TREES OF THE CAMBRIDGE BOTANIC GARDEN. 



13 



and under that name the tree became known, but when it flowered 

 in 1875 it was at once recognized as Cedrela sinensis. It appears to 

 be rare in England ; in Holland it is largely used for planting in towns, 

 and on account of its moderate growth and fragrant foliage it is 

 perhaps very suitable. Its flowering has not yet been recorded in 

 Britain, and it is said never to have fruited in France, but I have some 

 fruit myself, given me from a tree in a nursery at Orleans where it was 

 freely fruiting in 191 1. It is native of Northern and Western China. 

 It is commonly cultivated in Central China, but never attains a great 

 size because the young shoots are much esteemed for food in spring, 

 chopped up and fried in oil. The timber is good, of reddish colour, 

 and often used for making furniture. It belongs to the Meliaceae, to 

 which the Mahogany tree belongs. 



31. Acer Ginnala Maxim. 



There may be many finer examples of this native of China, 

 Manchuria, and Japan, but this note may usefully draw attention to 

 one of the prettiest of the genus. Though sometimes referred to as a 

 variety of A . tataricum, it is much more graceful in habit, and the leaves 

 are more prettily cut and lobed. It has the advantage of doing well 

 where the Japanese Maples cannot succeed on account, I suppose, of 

 lime in the soil. The height of this specimen is 14 ft. 6 in., and its 

 spread rather more than 20 ft. It is described as a small tree or 

 large shrub. In autumn the leaves are brilliant in colour, and there 

 is nothing finer for autumn tints. 



32. Koelreuteria paniculata Laxmann (Elwes and Henry, vii. 

 1932). 



Here is a tree of which I know the history. It was planted when 

 about 4 ft. high in i88i n In 1911 it was 29 ft. high and 33J ft. 

 through. It is now 30 ft. high. 



As an ornamental tree it is handsome and symmetrical for a good 

 many years, but from what I have seen I would say that it is 

 very liable to lose parts and to become shapeless. In the Chelsea 

 Botanic Garden some years ago there was a tree rather suggestive 

 of this quality. It is perfectly hardy, however, and the foliage is 

 very handsome. In flower the tree is quite showy with small yellow 

 flowers produced about midsummer. This year the tree at Cam- 

 bridge is not flowering. It sometimes seeds freely, and, as else- 

 where, the seeds germinate where they fall. The finest specimen in 

 England is probably one in Waterer's Nursery at Knaphill, Woking,^ 

 which was 40 ft. high with a girth of 6 ft. in 1911. There is a fine 

 tree on the upper north terrace of Windsor Castle. It is native of 

 Northern China and is common about Pekin. 



33. Pyrus Sorbus Gaertner (Elwes and Henry, i. 146). 



This is the true Service tree. It is not a native of Britain, though 

 claim for it as a native was long made. Our tree in 1906 was 42 ft. 

 high and 3 ft. 4 in. in girth. It is now distinctly on the decline, but 



