DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 
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smooth, and pale green on the upper side, slightly downy 
beneath. The blossoms are extremely beautiful, hanging, 
like those of the Horse-chestnut, in massy clusters beyond 
the outer surface of the foliage. The color is a pure and 
delicate white, and the inner part of the corolla is 
delicately sprinkled over with violet, or reddish and yellow 
spots ; indeed, the individual beauty of the flowers is so 
great when viewed closely, that one almost regrets that 
they should be elevated on the branches of a large forest 
tree. When these fall, they are succeeded by bean-like 
capsules or seed-vessels, which grow ten or twelve inches 
long, become brown, and hang pendent upon the branches 
during the greater part of the winter. 
The Catalpa never, or rarely, takes a symmetrical form 
when growing up ; but generally forms a wide-spreading 
head, forty or fifty feet in diameter. Its large and abundant 
foliage affords a copious shade, and its growth is quite 
rapid, soon forming a large and bulky tree. In ornamental 
plantations it is much valued on account of its superb and 
showy flowers, and is therefore deserving a place in every 
lawn. It is generally seen to best advantage when 
standing alone, but it may also be mingled with other large 
round-leaved trees, as the basswood, etc., when it produces 
a very pleasing effect. The branches are rather brittle, 
like those of the locust, and are therefore somewhat liable 
to be broken by the wind. Accustomed to a warmer 
climate, the leaves expand late in the spring, and wither 
hastily when frost approaches ; but the soft tint of their 
luxuriant vegetation is very grateful to the eye, and it 
appears to be uninjured by the hottest rays of summer. 
North of this place the Catalpa is rather too tender for 
exposed situations. 
