the Judas-tree: A genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the decandra clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 33d order, Lomentaceae. The calyx is quinquedentated, and gibbous below; the corolla papilionaceous, with a short vexillum or flag-petal under the wings or side-petals; a leguminous plant. There are only two species, both deciduous.

1. The filicastrum, common Judas-tree, or Italian cercis, a native of Italy and other parts of the south of Europe.—These differ in the height of their growth in different places: In some they will arrive to be fine trees, of near twenty feet high; whilst in others they will not rise to more than ten or twelve feet, sending forth young branches irregularly from the very bottom. The stem of this tree is of a dark-greyish colour, and the branches, which are few and irregular, have a purplish cast. The leaves are smooth, heart-shaped, and roundish, of a pleasant green on their upper surface, hoary underneath, and grow alternately on long footstalks. The flowers are of a fine purple: They come out early in the spring, in clusters, from the side of the branches, growing upon short footstalks; and in some situations they are succeeded by long flat pods, containing the seeds, which, in very favourable seasons, ripen in England. Some people are fond of eating these flowers in salads, on which account alone in some parts this tree is propagated. The varieties of this species are, 1. The Flesh-coloured; 2. The White-flowered; and, 3. The Broad-podded Judas-tree.

2. The Canadensis, or Canadian cercis, will grow to the size of the first fort in some places. The branches are also irregular. The leaves are cordated, downy, and placed alternately. The flowers usually are of a palish red colour, and show themselves likewise in the spring, before the leaves are grown to their size. These too are often eaten in salads, and afford an excellent pickle. There is a variety of this with deep red, and another with purple flowers. The pleasure which these trees will afford in a plantation may be easily conceived, not only as they exhibit their flowers in clutters, in different colours, early in the spring, before the leaves are grown to such a size as to hide them; but from the difference of the upper and lower surface of the leaves; the one being of a fine green, the other of a hoary cast; so that on the same tree, even in this respect, is shown variety; an improvement whereof is made by the waving winds, which will present them alternately to view.

Propagation. As these species will not take root by layers, they must be propagated by seeds, which may be had from abroad. They are generally brought us found and good, and may be sown in the months of February or March. Making any particular compost for their reception is unnecessary; common garden mould, of almost every sort, will do very well: And this being well dug, and cleared of all roots, weeds, &c., lines may be drawn for the beds. The mould being fine, part of it should be taken out, and sifted over the seeds, after they are sown, about half an inch thick. Part of the seeds will come up in the spring, and the others will remain until the spring following; so that whoever is desirous of drawing the seedlings of a year old to plant out, must not destroy the bed, but draw them carefully out, and after that there will be a succeeding crop. However, be this as it will, the seeds being come up, they must be weeded, and encouraged by watering in the dry season; and they will require no farther care during the first summer. In the winter also, they may be left to themselves, for they are very hardy; though not so much but that the ends of the branches will be killed by the frost, nay, sometimes to the very bottom of the young plant, where it will shoot out again afresh in the spring. Whoever, therefore, is desirous of securing his seedling-plants from this evil, should have his beds hooped, in order to throw mats over them during the hard frosts. Toward the latter end of March, or beginning of April, the plants having been in the seed-bed one or two years, they should be taken out, and planted in the nursery: The distance of one foot asunder, and two feet in the rows, should be given them. Hoeing the weeds down in the summer must also be allowed, as well as digging between the rows in the winter. Here they may stand until they are to be removed finally; but they must be gone over in the winter with the knife, and such irregular branches taken off. as are produced near the root; by which management the tree may be trained up to a regular form. Such, continues Hanbury, is the culture of the species of cercis; forts that are not to be omitted where there are any pretensions to a collection. Besides, the wood itself is of great value; for it polishes exceedingly well, and is admirably veined with black and green.