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metals by oxygen. They have also observed that the tints are 
far finer after a wet summer than after a hot and dry summer 
and the explanation is this :— 
“ During a moist summer the cuticle of a leaf remains thin and 
its colours are vivid. In a dry summer this cuticle becomes 
thicker and harder, in order to prevent an injurious loss of 
water from the plant; and while bright colours may form 
within the leaf, they appear dull because seen through the 
opaque skin or epidermis.”—Garden and Forest, October 
2nd, 1895. 
This certainly held true in my own garden, but I had several 
reports from other parts where the autumnal tints were reported 
to have been of exceptional beauty. At Dodington Park the 
colours were so brilliant that I received a special invitation to go 
and see them, but unfortunately I was not able to go. I got the 
same report from the Wye Valley; but I think both these cases 
rather prove the American rule. My garden, and especially the 
trees from which I look for autumnal tints, are fully exposed to 
the sun, while Dodington Park and the Wye Valley are not ; and 
so in both those cases the hot sun of this year may not have had 
the same effect that it had on my garden. I cannot follow this 
subject further now, but I think it worth fuller observation in 
future years. 
I am painfully aware that my paper has reached an abnormal 
length ; but for that you must blame the abnormal character of 
last winter, its length and severity. I hope better things from 
this winter; I am not a weather prophet,—I ean only hope and 
give no reasons for my hope. If any member would like to 
prophesy s severe winter, he is at full liberty to do so; if he can 
give a reason for his prophecy so much the better— or worse. 
