GYMNOCLADUS.

GYMNOCLADUS CANADENSIS.—­Kentucky Coffee Tree.  Canada, 1748.  When in full leafage this is a distinct and beautiful tree, the foliage hanging in well-rounded masses, and presenting a pretty effect by reason of the loose and tufted appearance of the masses of finely-divided leaves.  Leaves often 3 feet long, bipinnate, and composed of numerous bluish-green leaflets.  Flowers white, borne in loose spikes in the beginning of summer, and succeeded by flat, somewhat curved brown pods.  It prefers a rich, strong soil or alluvial deposit.

G. CHINENSIS.—­Soap Tree.  China, 1889.  Readily distinguished from the American species by its much smaller and more numerous leaflets, and thicker fruit pod.  It is not very hardy in this country unless in the milder sea-side districts.  The leaves are used by the Chinese women to wash their hair, hence the popular name of Soap Tree.

HALESIA.

HALESIA DIPTERA (syn H. reticulata).—­North America, 1758.  This is not so suitable for our climate as H. tetraptera, though in southern parts of the country it forms a neat, healthy bush, and flowers freely.  It is distinguished, as the name indicates, by having two wings to the seed vessel, H. tetraptera having four.

H. HISPIDA (syn Pterostyrax hispidum).—­Japan, 1875.  This is a shrub of perfect hardihood, free growth, and very floriferous.  The flowers, which are pure white, and in long racemes, resemble much those of the Snowdrop Tree.  Leaves broad and slightly dentated.  It is a handsome shrub, of free growth, in light, sandy loam, and quite hardy even when fully exposed.

H. PARVIFLORA has smaller flowers than those of our commonly-cultivated plant.

H. TETRAPTERA.—­Snowdrop Tree.  North America, 1756.  This is a very ornamental tall-growing shrub, of somewhat loose growth, and bearing flowers which resemble, both in size and appearance, those of our common Snowdrop.  It is one of the most ornamental of all the small-growing American trees, and richly deserves a place in every collection, on account of the profusion with which the flowers are produced in April and May.  They are snow-white, drooping, and produced in lateral fascicles of eight or ten together.  It is a native of river banks in North Carolina, and is well suited for cultivation in this country.  Light, peaty soil will grow it to perfection.

HALIMODENDRON.

HALIMODENDRON ARGENTEUM (syn Robinia Halimodendron).—­Salt tree.  A native of Asiatic Russia (1779), having silvery foliage, and pink or purplish-pink flowers, axillary or fascicled.  It is a neat and pretty shrub, that is rendered valuable as succeeding well in maritime districts.  Quite hardy and of free growth in sandy soil.

HAMAMELIS.