16 
LAWN AND SHADE TREES. 
private grounds. The tree grows rapidly, and while its slender 
branches droop, its form is upright, spreading, and when in 
good soil attaining a very large size. Like the birch, graceful 
and pliant, swaying to every breeze its glossy foliage in the 
summer season ; and its delicate, long, slender, purplish red spray 
in winter make the bird cherry a very desirable tree for many 
situations. 
As a street tree it would be unsuitable, and for small grounds 
it grows too large. Birds seem attracted always to it, and 
nest in it perhaps more than in any other tree. 
The Perfumed or Mahaleb Cherry is another variety of 
great beauty and value as an ornamental tree. It makes a small 
or dwarf tree of only fifteen to twenty feet high, and may be 
grown in any soil, from the very poorest to its opposite. For 
planting in cemeteries and small private grounds, its light and 
abundant spray, pale green leaves, strong yet agreeable perfume 
of wood, flowers, and fruit, make for it a strong claim for 
position. As a foreground also to groups of larger growing 
trees, whether evergreen or deciduous, it is admirable. 
The Double Flowering Cherry, a variety of the heart 
cherries, from its vigorous growth and profusion of double white 
flowers, like miniature roses in early spring, is a valuable tree 
for roadsides in the country, inclosed parks, or extensive 
private grounds. 
Deciduous Cypress — Taxodium distichia . — Although a na- 
tive of our Southern States, the deciduous cypress proves 
hardy in our Middle and also over a great portion of our 
Northern States. In foliage it is different from all other 
trees; with a resemblance to the hemlock, it has a light bright 
green leaf combined with an airy lightness of great elegance, 
pleasing and attractive to all. In low, wet grounds, as in its 
native habitat, it grow 7 s to a large tree; but planted in our 
common garden soils, it forms a tree of only medium height, say 
