56 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
and to-day it is not so much used as it formerly was. 
But it is a fine tree for wide avenues or for pasture 
lots or elsewhere where its free growth will not be 
undesirable. The red maple is the one usually 
found in low situations and which is so much ad- 
mired because of the fine display its red flowers 
make in early spring, and the brilliant hue its foli- 
age assumes in the fall. It is a slow growing 
tree, but makes a large and handsome one in time. 
There are many other medium sized trees and 
shrubs, but the tree kinds are embraced in those 
named. The sugar maple is planted as much for 
its fine autumn effect as for its shade. The bronze 
yellow of its foliage in the closing days of autumn 
is most beautiful. In this respect it much surpasses 
the popular favorite, the Norway, which changes 
color but little at all, keeping green up to the time 
its leaves fall from the tree. This tree is more round 
headed than any of the others, and has larger leaves 
also, excepting the sycamore. While some trees are 
particular as to season of planting, the maple is not; 
doing well set either in spring or fall, and fairly 
well in almost any situation. 
Joseph Meehan. 
SALIX BABYLONICA. ( The Weeping Willow . ) 
This is one of the most beautiful of the salix or 
willow family, which botanically, is an extensive 
one. The numerous varieties are principally na- 
tives of the temperate northern hemisphere, and al- 
though one variety grows nearer the north pole than 
any other tree, the most beautiful specimens are of 
oriental origin. 
The graceful Babylonica or Weeping Willow 
represents a strain native to the banks of the river 
Euphrates, which has been much adopted in Europe 
and America, and as the lithe branches have the 
peculiarity of drooping, or weeping, the tree has 
come to be associated with mourning, an emblem 
of grief. The Chinese and Japanese seem to be 
fond of the tree and represent it in their pictures 
as a growing, mortuary symbol. The willows of 
Babylon are forever associated with the children of 
Israel, mourning in captivity. 
There is no deciduous tree so popular for ceme- 
tery planting in all southern sections, but as it is not 
hardy below the Middle States, is cultivated as a 
shrub in large boxes, or tubs, in the north. Very 
hardy, as the term applies to shrubs or trees that 
endure 40 degrees of latitude without injury, the 
weeping willow may safely be trusted to withstand 
intense cold, under shelter, without heat, keeping 
it dry and dormant. Early in the spring time the 
willow buds swell and the yellowish catkins droop 
all along the wand-like branches, and the linear 
lanceolate leaves soon follow, clothing the drooping 
branches with light bright green, with a lovely sil- 
very under-lining. 
Few trees or shrubs are more graceful, more 
delicately suggestive, and it is seldom the weeping 
willow is planted elsewhere than in cemeteries. As 
the foliage starts early in the spring and is late in 
yielding to the effect of frost, as a lovely fresh green 
tree, it is not surpassed by any that are not ever- 
green. 
Willows of all kinds propagate readily from cut- 
tings, and in one season make no mean growth. 
From the very first lithe, graceful shoots, on up 
to the tree size, the weeping willow is unique and 
striking. Some botanists class them as semi-aqua- 
tic, and in truth, “the willow by the water side” 
is common, and perhaps low, moist grounds and 
banks of streams are best suited to the Osiers used 
in wicker work; but the writer has seen too many 
of Babylonica in cemeteries far removed from water 
ways to doubt that the culture will be successful 
wherever attempted. Water can be freely given, 
and the bright green leaves that make of each slen- 
der branch a perfectly beautiful wreath, will freshen 
and brighten with effect as good as that of bloom- 
ing wreaths. 
From one to four years they are handsome tub 
plants. After that age the trunk and roots will 
probably have out-grown the dimensions of a tub. 
Whether planted in the ground or in tubs, the 
trunk should be staked until it has assumed a firm, 
upright position. Otherwise the tendency is to 
droop to one side; but the slender branches may be 
easily trained to fall evenly all around, or as is some- 
times done for effect, the trunk may be perfectly 
straight and the branches all trained in one foun- 
tain like fall on one side. When the trees are 
turned in for winter rest and protection, every 
brancli can be cut off and new ones will put forth 
in the spring. 
xApropos of the weeping willow and the beauti- 
ful family it represents there has been discovered 
in Texas three varieties of flowering willow. The 
main characteristics of lanceolate leaves, long slen- 
der branches and thrifty growth are theirs, in com- 
mon with other willows, but on the terminus of the 
branches there are racemes of lovely tubular shaped 
flowers. Chilopsis Linearis or flowering willow 
with lavender flowers, tube shaped, lobed and 
beautifully crimped around the corolla with two 
bright gold marks, was the first discovered. Alba 
and Lilacina in pure white and in lilac and white, 
have since been di.scovered. They have all made free 
growth, as reported from Georgia, Tennessee, Mis- 
sissippi and Louisiana, in private gardens, arbore- 
tums and public gardens. It is an entirely new 
class of flowering shrubs. G. T. Drennan. 
