IN CERTAIN TREES AND SHRUBS. 197 



use of these fine things, would perhaps give a greater impulse to 

 planting than all the advertising of the tradesmen. 



Tlie selection of trees and shrubs possessing autumnal tints 

 is by no means an unimportant part of the planter's business. 

 When the gloom of winter threatens — when the aspect of our 

 gardens becomes totally changed by the general decadence of 

 the floral tribes, then the bounteous hand of Providence, by a 

 gracious compensation, " lights up " the woodland, the grove, 

 and the shrubbery by those delightfully various and ever- 

 changing tints which all who can appreciate the beauties of the 

 landscape so much admire. 



This is a numerous section, and any one who would watch 

 and carefully classify them would do planters a real service. I 

 may just observe, that the most glorious tints I am acquainted 

 with are those of the Liquidamber, the old yellow Azalea, and 

 I am tempted to add, although somewhat out of place, the true 

 West's St. Peter's Vine. The Oak family are not poor in these 

 things ; the old Merry tree is sometimes beautifully tinted ; so 

 is the Corylus atropurpureus, the Hippocastanum, and a host of 

 others, including pure yellows, as the Tulip tree, &c. To these 

 may be added for their rich tints our coloured stemmed shrubs, 

 as some of the Dogwoods. The Berried race may also be glanced 

 at. Foremost the old Holly, associated in the mind with the 

 Christmas festivities of centuries, and outdoors second to none in 

 the richness of its embellishment, or as shelter, \yhether in the 

 shrubbery, the field, the park, or the forest. Next the sombre 

 Yew, with its funereal associations, combining massiveness, dura- 

 bility, and hardihood. The Arbutus, Juniper, Leycesteria, 

 Snowberry, Ivy, Mahonia, the Garrya, Euonymus, &c. 



The Variegated section is by no means meagre or inapt for 

 decorative purposes. Materials also for rock work, or for impart- 

 ing a wilderness character, undergrowths and climbers ; and 

 lastly, as a consideration worthy the close attention of every one 

 engaged in ornamental gardening, our very early spring flower- 

 ing shrubs or trees, and our very late ones. 



Amongst the former I would point to the old snowy Mespilus, 

 tlie Almond, Ribes, the Corchorus, Chimonanthus, Cydonia 

 japonica, Mezereon, Cornelian Cherry, Weigelia, Forsythia, &c. 

 Amongst the latter, the old Althaea frutex, Erica herbacea, 

 Clethra, Arbutus, Escallonias, Laurustine ; and lastly, the old 

 Glastonbury Thorn of legendary fame ; and difficult it is to 

 know whether to class this with the old year or the new. 



Sketchy as the present remarks necessarily are, as applied to 

 a subject having such wide bearings, it may be seen by those 

 unacquainted with our trees and shrubs, how rich England is in 

 materials for decoration, at whatever period of the year, or what- 



p 2 



