452 Trees and Shrubs in Jforik America. 



Additional Mote. — The beauty of our autumnal foliage is 

 well known to the whole world : it has long been the theme 

 of admiration with the poet and the painter, and, to a for- 

 eigner, it appears to be one of the most superb features of 

 this fresh " green forest land." Yet, every year, the axe of 

 the woodsman erases wide masses of the rich coloring from 

 the panorama. Will it not be worth the consideration of 

 persons who are now making, or who, in many parts of the 

 country, before much time has elapsed, will make extensive 

 plantations of forest trees for ornament, shelter and profit, 

 to consider how splendid an effect may be |)roduced, by a 

 disposition of the most brilliantly colored of our indigenous 

 trees in separate groups and masses, on the parks and lawns 

 of extensive country residences ? It is true, that autiunn's 

 gay colors remain with us but for a short time, but is this 

 not also true with respect to the vivid greenness of vernal 

 foliage, and the still more fugitive beauty of blossoms which 

 constitutes one of the chief points of attraction in ornamen- 

 tal trees ? We feel confident that, when landscape garden- 

 ing shall arrive at that perfection which it is yet destined to 

 attain in this country, this will be a subject of important 

 consideration. The high beauty with which the richness 

 of our autumnal tints may invest even the tamest scene, we 

 were never more deeply impressed, than in travelling through 

 New Jersey, the months of September and October, the pres- 

 ent year. Every one is aware of the tame, monotonous ap- 

 pearance of a great portion of the interior of that State ; 

 but only those who have seen the same landscapes in autumn, 

 can imagine with what a magic glow even they are enshrined 

 in that season. The following are some of the trees we 

 noticed, as assuming the richest hues in their foliage. 

 Scarlet oak, (Quercus coccinea,) bright scarlet, dogwood 

 (Cornus florida,) and the tupelo and sour gum (Nyssrt villosa, 

 &€.) deep crimson, different species of Acer or maple, various 

 shades of yellow and deep orange ; the sweet-gum (Liquid- 

 amber) reddish purple, and our American ash, a distinct 

 sombre purple. These are but a few of the most striking 

 colors ; and all the intermediate shades were filled up by 

 the birches, sycamores, elms, chestnuts and beeches, of which 

 we have so many numerous species in our forests, and the 

 whole was thrown into lively contrast by a rich intermingling of 

 the deep green in the thick foliage of the pines, spruces and 

 hemlocks. 



Yours, 



A.J. Downing. 

 Botanic Garden and JYursery, ^ 

 Jfewburg,jr. Y. Oct. 20, 1835. ] 



