2052

ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

PART III.

It possesses nearly the same properties as the balsam of Tolu, and that ofPeru (both produced by a tree in Brazil), for which it is often substituted, aswell as for storax. The best liquidambar gum is obtained by making incisionsin the trunk, and suffering the resin to flow gradually ; but an inferior kind isprocured by boiling the small branches and leaves, and collecting the balsamicoil which rises from them, and floats on the surface of the water. In Englandand in North America, very little gum is produced from the trunk of the tree,though a little exudes from the leaves ; and Michaux informs us that, in re-peated experiments made in Carolina, he was never able to collect more thanhalf an ounce, from a tree 1 ft. in diameter, in a fortnight. In Britain, theprincipal use of this tree is as an ornament to lawns and pleasure-grounds ; inwhich it has a most striking appearance, when the leaves are dying off inautumn; and it is also very beautiful throughout the summer, from the darkgreen and glossy surface of its elegantly shaped leaves. When bruised, theleaves are fragrant at all seasons; but in spring, when they are first un-folding, after a warm shower, the surrounding air is filled with their refreshingodour.

Soil, Propagation, §c. The liquidambar has a decided preference for amoist soil, and will only attain a timber-like size in a sheltered situation. InBritish nurseries, it is generally propagated by layers, which root with toler-able facility, and may be taken off at the end of the first autumn after they havebeen formed. It is also propagated by seeds imported from America. Theseare brought over in the catkins, and should not be taken out of them tillthe time of sowing ; because the seeds, like those of the pine and fir tribe,do not keep well when exposed to the air. The round prickly catkins whichcontain the seeds are hard, and not readily broken with the hand; but, byexposure to the sun, or to fire heat, they crack and open, and the seeds maythen be easily shaken out. They may be sown and treated like seeds of thepine and fir tribe; but, unlike them, they lie a year in the ground beforecoming up. Seedlings generally attain the height of from 5 in. to 8 in. thefirst year, with numerous fibrous roots. They may either be transplanted thatyear, or the next, and may afterwards undergo the usual routine culture innursery lines, till they are wanted for final transplanting.

Accidents, Diseases, and Insects. The wood of the liquidambar being brittle,the branches are liable to be broken off by very high winds; and the woundsleft, if not smoothed and protected from the air, will greatly facilitate therotting of the tree, the timber of which is naturally not durable. In America,several insects feed on the leaves, among which we may mention the greenswallow-tailed emperor moth (Phalce'na luna Abb. Smith, t. 48., and ourfig. 1962.) and the great plane moth ( P. imperatoria Abb. S Smith, t. 55., .Bom-byx imperialis Fab.). Insects of the former species are not common ; but theyare very beautiful; the caterpillar being bright orange with yellow spots, andthe moth bright yellow and pink. These insects are very difficult to rear, asthe moth generally dies in confinement, before depositing her eggs.

Statistics. In the environs of London, at Syon, 59 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 1 ft. 7 in.,and of the head 36 ft.; in the Fulham Nursery, 15 years planted, it is 20 ft. high. South of London :in Devonshire, at Luscombe, 18 years planted, it is 23 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 6 in., and thatof the head 14 ft.: in Hampshire, at Strath tieldsaye, it is 64 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 2 ft. 6 in.,growing in rich soil, not much above the level of theriver : in Kent, at Cobham Hall, 25 years planted,it is 36 ft. high, with a trunk 1ft. 3 in. in diameter : in Surrey, at Farnham Castle, on dry chalkysoil, 40 years planted, it is 20 ft. high, with a trunk 1 ft. in diameter; at Woburn Farm, it is up.wards of 60 ft. high.; at Ockham Park, 23 years planted, it is 22 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk10 in., and of the head 15 ft: in Wiltshire, at Wardour Castle, 30 years planted, it is 25 ft. high, thediameter of the trunk 9 in., and that of the head 8 ft. North of London : in Bedfordshire, at Ampt.hill, 38 years planted, it is 25 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 1 ft., and of the space covered by thebranches 24 ft.: in Cheshire, at Eaton Hall, 13 years planted, it is 12 ft. high, the diameter of thetrunk 5 in., and that of the space covered by the branches 10 ft.: in Herefordshire, at Wormleybury,80 years old, it is 55 ft. high, the circumference of the trunk at the ground 5ft.: in Monmouth-shire, at Tredegar Park, 50 years planted, it is 25 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 1 ft., and that ofthe head 90 ft : in Suffolk, at Ampton Hall, 12 years planted, it is 16 ft. high, the diameter of thetrunk 3 in., and of the head 6 ft.: in Warwickshire, at Combe Abbey, it is 37 ft. high, the diameterof the trunk 1 ft. 2 in., and that of the head 21 ft.: in Worcestershire, at Croome, 15 years planted,it is 25 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 5 in., and that of the head 15 ft. : in Yorkshire, in the HullBotanic Garden, 12 years planted, it is 20 ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 12 in.—Tn Scotland. InLawson’s Nursery, Edinburgh, 4 years planted, it is 4 ft. high $ the young shoots being often injuredby the frost. In Banffshire, at Gordon Castle, 12 years planted, it is 10 ft. high, the diameter of thetrunk 4 in. In Fifeshire, at Danibristle Park, 4 years planted, it is 4ft. 6 in. high, the diameter