At the Centennial, the Japanese had specimens of wood of a forest tree that seemed hitherto unknown, and yet bore evidence of great value. The tree has since been imported, and besides its probable value as a rapid growing timber tree, it has great beauty of an ornamental kind, and it promises to have a great popularity. The specimen illustrated made a growth of three feet a year. It has rather an erect growth, not unlike a Lombardy poplar. The plant is said to belong to the Magnoliaceae, but the leaves are opposite, about the size of those of an apple tree, and turn to a bright purple in fall. So far as it has yet gone, it has not developed any faults, and for beauty it has few superiors, while it will, doubtless, in time obtain some reputation in American forestry.

Cercidiphyllum Japonicum.