New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-21
AMERICAN FORESTRY.
o,rp u.NnSONr NATIVE TREES


Unscientifc readers will no doubt remember the
hrst volume of this work as the in which
the magnolias the hndens and the hollies are
described, and to the same class the second volume
will be distinguished as the one which treats OF
the buckeyes and naples. Indeed so large pro-
portion thirty-onc Of the forty-seven plates IL
this volume are devoted to members Of the single
family of the Sapindaceae. TO which these trees
belong. These plates are the first thing to arrest
the eye US the book is opened, and it may DC
said at the outset that in work OF descriptive
science they ought TO be more than mere Illus
trations Of the text; that is they should nave an
independent substantial and original value ms
is particularly true of the plates of this Silva
of North America" where complete characters
are given of every tree described. and in the case
of dioecious plants both sexes are figured
GLANCE at any of them will show that they are
characterized by naturalness and grace but this
would count for little if they lacked precision In
botanical details for the aim OF botanical
drawing is to present not only the obvious traits
of the subject they appear to the ordinary eye
but to bring out their scientific characters In such
a way that they can be easily apprehended by the
botanist This purpose is very different from
that of the flower painter, who deals primarily
with the aesthetic aspect Of plants. The botanical
artist must draw not only what he SEES but what
he knows from careful study is to be found III
his subjects He must therefore, be more than
skilful draughtsman; he must have souno
knowledge of botanical science and. as many Of the
characters are not 10 be seen with the naked eye
and REQUIRE an autopsy to reveal them, he must
have proper training in plant dissection and IN
the use of the microscope. But while purely
pictorial effects are offensive in good botanical
mates they should have true artistic feeling as
well as rigid accuracy. This is why the slmplesF
and most direct methods are employed to the pes'
advantage in such illustrations, and nothing mas
ever been found better adapted to the psrpose
than lightly shaded outline drawings like those
of Mr. Faxons style which, while it admits OF
unsurpassed clearness, also allows rare dchcacy
and softness of treatment. The method OF en-
craving on copper of which the Silva gives fine
example. lends itself wonderfully to this knd OF
drawing. as can be readily seen by comparing the
mates of this work with the best Autographs.
There is clearness and sharpness about the copper
engraving which is uneYcelled, but while 1T re-
beats with fidelity and finish every detail of the
band-work il is more than a cold reproduction
of lines FOR it does not fail TO render as well that
nameless charm which invests every genuine
work of art. OF course some plates are more al
tractive than Others but there is sustained ex-
cellence in the hundred examples given In inc
two volumes now published. which places this
series in the very front rank OF illustrations, IN
the field of natural history.
Besides the Sapindaceae mentioned above only
three Others of the natural families OF plants con-
tain trees which are described In this volume.
The first of these is Cyrillaceae, family related
70 the beaths and hollies. Only two OF It's three
genera are found on this continent, and both
are natives of our Southern coast region. The
FIRST Of these is the leatherwoOd, Cyrilla found
1and
coost nine belt and on the sandy ridges near the
Gulf. and though it is not in cultivation OUTSIDE
Of a few botanical gardens, its lustrons leaves
and graceful flowers give it high ornamental
value The second Cliftonia, locally known as
the Tit, is still more beautiful, with It's ever
- - Howers and al
Bartram
ah River, and
was probably at one time IN Bartram S Oaroeh a.
philadelphia, it is practically unknown IN cul'i-
walton
The next family represented is the Celastrdceae'
Two Southern trees described nave HtUe lhieieS'
on account of thr local character, Dut the gre"'
genus Evonymus. which is found tnrougnouO 'ne
Northern Hemisphere, contains some OF tne mus
;torostinc trees. shrubs, and vines which inhaoit
our gardens Only one North American species
ettains the size of tree, and that is the tamliai
prrnino Rush or Wahoo (Evonymus atropur-
nrrorsl T. is found from Western New-lork 70
,ho unner waters of the Missouri in Montana, ana
sopthward 10 Florida and the Indian territory
md in the region around Southern Arkansas IL
.esrmes the true arboreal form. Its bright rult
in autumn is as we'll known as is that OF us near
,olo+iva the bitter-sweet, whose orange-coloreu
So o,d scarlet ed-coverings help TO add beauty
% many of our roadside thickets in autumn
The bucloborn family Rhamnaceae is the
Ibid ono represented in this volume. The req
ironwood Reynosia) and purple haw 'Oonuaiis
helonn here The black ironwood OF the rloliu"
Kevs is also placed in this FAMILY ny oi''No,
Sargent under the name OF Rnaulnluiuni, anu o.
.,.on,;r.tion If the synonynes shows that this
80 49, hon CONSIGNED to seven different genera
ny as MANY competent botanists IN TINS fanny,
mo comes the Ceanothus, genus which Is wen
kroun in this region by the common shruo caIleu
Nau-Jersev tea. whose red roots are said 10 nave
Furnished the patriots with substitute tor Yea
~ tho dry times of the Revolution. The genus
,xtends quite across the continent, but nome VI
the speces attain the size OF trees un'll .ne e
.aued California lilac CeanothuS thyrsliollue
= ct with California also has an arooTeal loIin
80 Ceanothus velutinus, which is oeautilui siiiSi
+rae The true buclIthOrns are louhu Ho"i ~
Atlantic TO the Pacific, and they are sh, US -.
.u zoos which are usually worth cu.tlvauhs
for their compact haplC anu 1,,-.o,o no
autumn. One species, Rhamnus furshiane' "
,omes handsome tree Of forty or hity lee' Ing" ="
sheltered canons of Oregon. Another, C"c oD
called Indian cherry, develops into small snapeS
tree in Southern Arkansas and IeAas' anu ILL.,
With red fruit, is not found east OF Vlle "'eii
All the buckthorns contain the medlclhai piin0f
ME which gives its specific name 10 the H"i0PNI
pr p%o,ns catbartica, and half million pounds
Of cascara sagrada, which is the bark oil inc
Rhamnus Purshiana, is now consumed annually ~
A We are next introduced to the buckeyes e, or
-ohestnuts and naples, two genera which In
clude some of the stateliest and most useiui 'ecs
Of the north temperate zone.
in all OF