THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 79 



plant is graceful, and it may be easily grown even in the 

 house, by means of a Wardian case. 



But leaving many berries unmentioned, we must consider 

 some of the pods. These usually attract more by their grace 

 of form than by any inherent color. The other day we found 

 the giant St. John's-wort (Hypernicuiii ascyruui) four feet 

 high and with great pyramidal capsules. Around there were 

 still traces of the calyx and persistent petals. It is a grand 

 plant when in bloom. 



We never pass the great, fat, saucy pods of iris without 

 desiring to pick them. The pods of evening primrose, too, 

 are interesting, and the big prickly ones of "Jimson-weed" 

 (Datura strornonium) most exquisite. It is interesting to 

 note the kinds of dehiscence (opening) of pods. Some split 

 through the back of the cells, others by the partitions, still 

 others by chinks or pores, and not a few have a means to 

 scatter the seed mechanically. 



Providence, R. I. 



ENGLISH TREES IN AUTUMN. 



* I ^ HE colors of our English trees in autumn make, on the 

 ■■■ whole, a much less vivid and conspicuous display than 

 is to be seen during October and early November among the 

 forests of Canada and the United States. The English climate 

 has a hatred of extremes which seems to stamp itself on the 

 foliage matured by its woods. Beautiful and brilliant as is 

 often the beech in its scarlet and orange, or the crimson col- 

 umn of the bird berry at the copses edge, there is felt to be 

 something more deeply and truly in sympathy with English 

 scenery about the deep mouldering russet of the November 

 oak-crowns — a color which no brightness of the autumn sun- 

 shine can quite kindle into living flame though it glows on 

 steadfastly and strongly long after the more fugitive glories 

 of the beech have been stripped by the late October gales. 



