STrcrs of drafting, fRass. No. 5. 
THE CHARLES D. THOMAS BIRCH. 
Cut-Leaved Birch. Weeping Birch. Betula albapcmlu/a laciniata. 
It is proposed to devote this work principally to our native trees, yet they are treated 
as individuals rather than as a species, and therefore room is made for this foreign 
individual. It is located about a rod south of Mr. Chas. D. Thomas’s residence, on the 
east side of Prospect St., between Woburn and King Sts. It was propagated from a tree 
imported from Germany, about thirty-five years ago, by Ellwanger & Barry, nurserymen, 
of Rochester, N. Y. 
Mr. Thomas, happening to see one of the first trees of this variety planted in this 
country, gave an order for one to Mr. Jacob W. Manning, nurseryman, of Reading, who 
procured three trees from the importers. One of these is the subject of this sketch, and 
was planted where it now stands, in the spring of 1S64, by Mr. Charles I). Thomas 
(b. 1831) and Miss E. Josephine Temple, she holding the tree while Mr. Thomas filled 
in the earth. The following year, Miss Temple became Mrs. Thomas. 
The top divides into two smaller trunks, at about six feet from the ground. These are 
sprouts which appeared soon after planting. The old top is still alive, and has assumed 
the character of a limb, which measures about five inches in diameter, and extends 
toward the east. 
The measurements in August, 18S7, were as follows:— 
Circumference. Height. Spread. 
2 in. from ground, 5 ft. 10J in. 47 ft. 39 ft. 
3 ft. “ “ 5 ft. 6} in. 
Our photograph, taken in August, 1887, from a position southeast of tree, shows the 
main trunk and the larger of the two smaller trunks, the other being directly in the rear. 
The old original top is the lowest branch on the right-hand side. Still further to the 
right may be seen a pruned hemlock, which was set out at the same time as the birch. 
The long pendulous branchlets, which respond to the slightest zephyr, give an air of 
grace and refinement to the entire surroundings. Notwithstanding Mr. Thomas has 
some of the rarest trees in Reading, not one of them would be missed half so much as this 
beautiful specimen. 
The cut-leaved birch is a variety of the European white birch (Betula alba). It is 
said the original tree was found in Sweden, by the son of the noted botanist, Linnasus. 
It was propagated in the nurseries of Germany and exported to America for the first 
time about 1S50. Our native white birch {Betula alba var. populifolia) is genei all\ 
considered by botanists as another variety of the same species, although some authorities 
make it a distinct species. 
The cut-leaved variety is so rare, and so highly esteemed as an ornamental tree, that it 
is not embodied in such humble but very useful articles, spools, shoe-pegs, etc., as 
is our common variety. 
It is especially effective on lawns, either singly or in combination with other trees, the 
green of the leaves contrasting very prettily with the almost pure white of the trunk and 
larger branches. 
