EUROPEAN LINDENS Under the Linnman and trade name, Tilia Europoza, many different species of lindens have been imported by American nurserymen, and these trees are widely planted, especially in the Eastern States. Tilia vulgans, with small leaves green on both sides, is a favourite avenue tree, beside which the American bass wood looks coarse indeed. This is the linden that lines the famous Berlin thoroughfare, "Unter den Linden "—which so disappoints the average tourist. To judge the lindens of the Continent by these trees would be like judging American trees by specimens that grow along Broadway in New York. The splendid lime trees in the rural sections of France and Germany and in the parks show the linden in its best estate.
In America some fine avenues of this species have attained great age and size. The season of 1904 found these trees loaded with flowers and fruit, under a leaf crown of unusual density and beauty. The lower limbs lie on the ground when the tree makes a natural growth, and the platforms of foliage, each lined with the pendant cluster of flowers, fairly dripping with nectar, form a symmetrical cone worth going miles to see. The ground under these trees was covered with discarded petals and the weakest of the flower clusters, but the limbs above still bent under the burden of the ripening seed balls. The leaves remain
much later than those of the native basswoods.
There are many fine specimens of Tilia tomentosa and Tilia argentea, from eastern Europe, now coming into American gardens and parks. These species deserve more extended cultivation. Each has its foliage lightened with silky leaf linings. The weeping silver linden, Tilia peliolaris, is an elegant tree with white-lined leaves.
The Broad-leaved Linden (Tiliaplatyphyllos), very common in European parks and avenues, soon loses its foliage in dry weather and is less desirable than other species for America. It is clipped to form hedges in Europe; the alleys of the Tuilleries gardens were made of it.
Because lindens submit patiently to pruning, they have long been clipped into grotesque figures, along with yew and box. They had a tremendous vogue while the formal garden was approaching its most elaborate development. A more lasting popularity was vouchsafed them as avenue and park trees, a popularity which dates from remote times and is still unchecked. "The Linden spreadeth forth his branches wide and farre abroad, being a tree which yieldeth a most pleasant shadow, under and within whose boughs may be made brave summer houses and banquetting arbours."