IRISH GAKDENING. 



183 



Autumn Tints, 



If the suinniei" was short, and the eail\- aiitipuu 

 not all that could be desired, at least there have 

 been some compensations during brief spells oi 

 line weather in late autumn. In Ireland we do 

 not as a rule get the brilliant autumn colour iu 

 leaves that they get in the South oL" England 

 and in some Contineatai countries, but this year 

 lias been exceptional all through. JRareh have 

 the autumn colours been more beautiful. In the 

 Botanic Gardens at Ulasnevin during the early 

 part oi' October one could not but be struck by 



beautiful golden shades, the whole forming a 

 glorious combination of colours. Hardly less 

 beautiful were the graceful birches, thovigh here 

 there is no red in the colovir scheme. AH die off 

 in charming shades of yellow, which in contrast 

 with the white trvinks of some and the bviff and 

 brown of others made a lovely picture. Many of 

 the Thorns too are beautiful, ]ust before the 

 leaves fall— some yellow, others assviming red 

 tints, and all. this year, bearing an immense crop 

 of fruits. Home of the trees are loaded with large 

 bright scarlet Haws, and on others they are 

 " black as Sloes " : here and there yellow Haws 

 are noticeable, and even some of a pinkish hue. 



L'nixNESE PiHUDOUENDUONS 



Clearing of forest by fire. 11. Fortunei in the foregrouud 

 Phutu. by Mr. (TCor(ir Fuirc^f 



the many and lovely hvies assumed by trees and 

 shrubs, as the leaves having fulfilled ttieir function 

 prepared to part from the branches. The very 

 large number of different species of trees and 

 shrubs cultivated in the Botanic Gardens presents 

 an opportunity of observing the various hues 

 which could hardly be obtained elsewhere. From 

 all the temperate regions of the world — Europe, 

 Asia and America — we find trees and shrubs 

 capable of growing in our cliniate, and naturally 

 at all seasons of the year they present immense 

 variety in appearance. Among trees one of the 

 most beautiful was the Vine Maple, Acer cir- 

 cinatum, from N.W. America, the leaves dying 

 off a beautiful combination of red and yellow, 

 the red appearing first in blotches, and gradually 

 nearly cov^ering the leaf. Lovely too was Acer 

 rufinerve, yovmg trees of which were clothed m 

 deep crimson. A. nikoense from Japan was not 

 less beautiful, whether by the river-side or higher 

 i^p on the hill, the beautiful three-parted leaves 

 turning rich red. Many other Maples assumed 



Among shrubs nothing excelled Berberis Thun- 



bergii in its mantle of brilliant red leaves. 



Hardly less beautiful was the shrub commonly 



known as Cotoneaster acutifolia, the leaves 



becoming a glowing dark crimson before falling. 



Some of the Dogwoods colour beautifully, none 

 perhaps being finer than Cornus sanguinea. 

 Euonymus lalifolius, one of the Spindle Trees or 

 Peg- wood, was also remarkable not only for the 

 handsome dark red of tlie foliage, bvit also for the 

 bounteous crop of rosy-red fruits hanging in 

 clusters from the branches. 



Prominent among other ornamental berry- 

 bearing shrubs are the Barberries, notably B. 

 Prattii, aggregata, Wilsonse, with beautiful 

 clusters of pink fruits, while the brilliant red 

 berries of B. vulgaris and its varieties are not 

 excelled by any new species. 



The Cotoneasters too are very noticeable at 

 present, not only for the finely coloured foliage 

 of sonie of the deciduous species, but also for the 

 brilliant red fruits of others. Some of the best 



