DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 
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smooth bark, and round head. The leaves are pinnated, 
four or five inches in length, and slightly resemble those 
of the ash. The snow-white flowers are produced in large 
fiat clusters, in the month of May, which are thickly 
scattered over the outer surface of the tree, and give it a 
lively appearance. These are succeeded by numerous 
bunches of berries, which in autumn turn to a brilliant 
scarlet, and are then highly ornamental. For the sake of 
these berries, this tree is a great favorite with birds ; and 
in Germany it is called the Vogel Beerbaum, i. e. bird’s 
berry tree, and is much used by bird catchers to bait their 
springs with. 
Twenty-five feet is about the average height of the 
Mountain ash in this country. Abroad it grows more 
vigorously ; and in Scotland, where it is best known by the 
name of the Roan or Rowan tree, it sometimes reaches the 
altitude of 35 or 40 feet. The lower classes throughout 
the whole of Britain, for a long time attributed to its 
branches the power of being a sovereign charm against 
witches ; and Sir Thomas Lauder informs us that this 
superstition is still in existence in many parts of the High- 
lands, as well as in Wales. It is probable that this tree 
was a great favorite with the Druids ; for it is often seen 
growing near their ancient mystical circles of stones. The 
dairymaid, in many parts of England, still preserves the old 
custom of driving her cows to pasture with a switch of the 
roan tree, which she believes has the power to shield them 
from all evil spells.* “Evelyn mentions that it is cus- 
tomary in Wales to plant this tree in churchyards; and 
Miss Kent in her Sylvan Sketches, makes the following 
remarks e In former times this tree was supposed to be 
* Lightfoot, Flora Scotica. 
