382 
DECIDUOUS TREES. 
“The Red Birch {B. rubra) belongs chiefly to the south, be- 
ing scarcely ever seen north of Virginia. It prefers the moist soil 
of river banks, where it reaches a noble height. It takes its name 
from the cinnamon or reddish color of the outer bark on young trees. 
When old it becomes rough, furrowed, and greenish. The leaves 
are light-green on the upper surface, whitish beneath, very pointed 
at the end, and terminated at the base in an acute angle. The 
twigs are long, flexible, and pendulous ; and the limbs of a brown 
color, spotted with white.” 
A full collection of birch trees would form a very interesting 
arboricultural specialty for a suburban place, especially where the 
ground surfaces are irregular or rocky. 
THE LINDEN OR BASSWOOD. Tillia. 
The linden, famous in Germany as the shade tree of her most 
celebrated avenues — there taking the same rank that our elm 
does among us — is inferior to some of our native trees in many 
essential qualities. It forms an oval, symmetrical head, and the 
branches, which are smooth and regular, droop with a fine curve 
from the lower part of the trunk, and, rising again at their extremi- 
ties, form a graceful sweep most pleasing for an open lawn tree. 
Indeed, were it not that its leaves are inviting to certain worms, 
who make silk from them, and then suspend themselves in myriads 
from the tree, its abundant foliage and graceful form would espe- 
cially commend it for park use. The flowers appear in June and 
July, and hang in loose, pale yellow clusters, and are fragrant. 
Some of the species or varieties are said to be deliciously per- 
fumed. The leaves vary from a true heart-shape to an acutely 
pointed heart-shape ; are of a pleasing light-green color, and 
smooth, but not glossy, turning yellow in September, and are 
among the earliest to drop. The variety of lindens is not large. 
The American Linden or Basswood, T. americana^ is mainly 
described in the above description of the genus. It is the most 
robust of the species. The leaves are from four to five inches in 
diameter, acute heart-shaped, and pale green. The growth is rapid. 
