JUNE EFFECTS ON THE LA WN. 57 



June, or late May, again is the season to which this maple 

 confines the display of its charms. Its size resembles that 

 of its parent, the common Norway maple. Usually, how- 

 ever, variegated trees and shrubs are apt to be more dwarf 

 than the parent form. Acer Lorbergii is another red-leaved 

 Norway maple of considerable value, but less attractive than 

 A. Schwerdlerii. 



I must also mention here one of the most interesting of 

 maples, Acer Colck'icum rubrum, or more properly Acer 

 Icetum, a true Japanese maple, although sometimes supposed 

 to come from the region of the Caucasus. The great charm 

 of this maple lies in the lovely tints of its young growth in 

 June. Young red leaves and leaf-stalks at this season com- 

 pletely variegate the tree, while at the same time we behold 

 elegant contours and refreshing green tints. Otherwise the 

 tree is of medium size, and, unfortunately, defective in 

 hardness while young in many parts of the United States. 

 Acer Colchicum rubrum (Icetum) is rare and somewhat 

 difficult to propagate, as well as slightly tender, and there- 

 fore deserves a position both prominent and protected. 



Maples generally make a most interesting feature in 

 June, whether for their young growths of glowing red or 

 for their refreshing green. I question, indeed, whether the 

 lovely colors of June foliage are not more rich and varied 

 among maples than in any other genus of hardy trees. 



But of all maples, the most remarkable, the most gifted in 

 color, are the Japanese maples. Every tint of green, gold, sil- 

 ver, red, and purple meet and commingle on their elegantly 

 and most strangely formed leaves. The many-formed Japan- 

 ese maple, Acer polymorphum, is positively rainbow-dyed 



