NEWER DECIDUOUS TREES AND SHRUBS. 
461 
only two feet high, but whether this is the habit of this variety, 
or accidental, we are not prepared to say. 
We have also here (received some years ago from Mr. Rivers, 
we think), a dwarf variety, called Dwarf prolific, which has 
the merit of fruiting when a small shrub. 
Cercis. Judas Tree. 
The only addition to this variety, which has appeared 
within the past few years, is Cercis foliis-variegata (the Varie- 
gated-leaved Judas) ; the leaves blotched and streaked with 
white, and sometimes pink and white splashes ; desirable, but 
at present very rare. We procured our plants, we believe, 
from France. 
Fagus. Beech. 
There are several varieties of this tree, which have been in- 
troduced into cultivation within the last few years, well de- 
serving of notice, and some of them very curious and interest- 
ing ; among these is, Fagus laciniata , called also F. asplenifolia 
and F. incisa , and known in the nursuries as Cut-leaved, Fern- 
leaved and Various-leaved beech. We have all these plants 
under the different names, but, except the occasional sport, 
which the beech is peculiarly liable to, we believe them to be 
identical ; sometimes resembling a fern, which is the most usual, 
and others again with leaves very oddly cut and shredded, 
as it were, by insects. The Fern-leaved beech, commonly so- 
called, is a great favorite with us, and we hardly know a pret- 
tier or more attractive tree, or one less known or planted ; if 
we could plant but half a dozen trees this would certainly be 
one of the first. It has the close round habit of the beech with 
a pleasing green and glaucous color, and the most tiny and deli- 
cate foliage, the persistency of which would make it very 
desirable for topiary work, as it bears the shears better than any 
deciduous tree we know of. Its maximum height is forty to 
fifty feet, but we have seen no specimen in this country over 
twelve to fifteen feet ; its average annual growth being twelve 
to fifteen inches. 
