130 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
regard. Standing alone as a single tree, or in a group 
of at most three or four in number, it developes itself in 
all its perfection. The White American elm we consider 
the most beautiful of the family, and to this we more 
particularly allude. In such situations as we have just 
mentioned, this tree developes its fine ample form in the 
most perfect manner. Its branches first spring up em- 
bracing the centre, then bend off in finely diverging lines, 
until in old trees they often sweep the ground with their 
loose pendent foliage. With all this lightness and peculiar 
gracefulness of form, it is by no means a meagre looking 
tree in the body of its foliage, as its thick tufted masses 
of leaves reflect the sun and embosom the shadows as 
finely as almost any other tree, the oak excepted. We 
consider it peculiarly adapted for planting, in scenes 
where the expression of elegant or classical beauty is 
desired. In autumn the foliage assumes a lively yellow 
tint, contrasting well with the richer and more glowing 
colors of our native woods. Even in winter it is a 
pleasing object, from the minute division of its spray and 
the graceful droop of its branches. It is one of the most 
generally esteemed of our native trees for ornamental 
purposes, and is as great a favorite here as in Europe for 
planting in public squares and along the highways. 
Beautiful specimens may be seen in Cambridge, Mass., 
and very fine avenues of this tree are growing with great 
luxuriance in and about New Haven.* The charming 
villages of New England, among which Northampton 
and Springfield are pre-eminent, borrow from the superb 
and wonderfully luxuriant elms which decorate their fine 
* The great elm of Boston Common is 22 feet in circumference. 
