American birch trees

The American sorts, and particularly the Black birch, start into leaf very early in the spring, and their tender green is agreeable to the eye at that season; while the swelling buds and young foliage in many kinds, give out a delicious, though faint perfume. Even the blossoms, which hang like little brown tassels from the drooping branches, are interesting to the lover of nature. "The fragrant birch above him hung Her tassels in the sky, And many a vernal blossom sprung, And nodded careless by." BRYANT.