AUTUMNAL COLOR ON THE LAWN. 117 



to us ; as it is, we must be satisfied with a suggestive sketch, 

 and hope that the love for lawn-planting may soon grow 

 sufficiently to demand a more exhaustive treatment of color 

 composition in foliage than I can expect to give at the 

 present time. 



The foliage which I now choose for consideration is that 

 of late fall, and the part of the season that I specially 

 select as offering the most lovely and varied color of autumn 

 is that which is frequently called Indian summer. We all 

 know it. There is possibly nothing of the kind in the 

 world that surpasses it. The shimmering haze and indis- 

 tinct view of objects that seem to wave slightly before the 

 eye, the brilliant tints of outlying trees and shrubs relieved 

 against dark foliage and naked branches, all combine to 

 create a picture of surpassing loveliness. 



As well might I attempt to explain how to imitate the 

 tints of the leaf itself as to discern the methods by which 

 all these wonderful effects are brought together in field and 

 wood. The brisk, pure air and almost faint stillness often 

 add to the glamour of the scene. In short, the senses 

 simply luxuriate in the feast spread before them, to the en- 

 tire exclusion, for the moment, of any desire to explain the 

 why and wherefore. Like the lotus eaters we are satisfied 

 " only to hear and see," but, doubtless, like them too, only 

 for a little while, in spite of any intimation of the poet to 

 the contrary. When the time comes to plant and we 

 have studied the subject we find, however, that by work- 

 ing on the same principles as nature uses in her favored 

 spots, we can secure something of the same effect on our 

 lawns. It may not indeed have the peculiar charm of true 



