378 
DECIDUOUS TREES. 
rays of the sun, is the most essential requisite in growing beautiful 
magnolias. If the reader remembers what is contained in Chapter 
XVIII, on growing half-hardy trees, and will follow its sugges¬ 
tions, there need be little fear of failure in growing this tropical 
family of great-leaved trees in most portions of the northern 
States. 
THE BIRCH. Betula. 
The lightness, grace, and delicacy of some of the birch family, 
in bark, branching, and foliage, is proverbial; and yet, within a 
few years, new varieties have been introduced that fairly surpass 
the acknowledged charms of the older members. 
Contrary to our ordinary habit of naming the best native 
varieties first, we shall begin with that most exquisite of modern 
sylvan belles— 
Fig. ii8. 
The Cut-leaved Weeping Birch. B. lacianata pendula .— 
Wherever known, this tree stands the ac¬ 
knowledged queen of all the airy graces 
with which lightsome trees coquette with the 
sky and the summer air. It lacks no charm 
essential to its rank. Erect, slender, tall, it 
gains height only to bend its silvery spray 
with a caressing grace on every side. Like 
our magnificent weeping elm, but lighter, 
smaller, and brighter in all its features, it 
rapidly lifts its head among its compeers till 
it over-tops them, and then spreads its 
branches, drooping and subdividing into the 
most delicate silvery branchlets, whose pen¬ 
sile grace is only equalled by those of the weeping willow. Fig. 
118 illustrates its common form about ten years after planting. 
We regret being unable to present an engraving that will 
suggest the airy grace of this tree. No engraving could do it 
justice. Like the palm tree of the tropics, it must be seen in 
motion, swaying in the lightest breeze, its leaves trembling in the 
