AUTUMN COLOURS 75 



becomes yellow. Berberis Thunbergi, which dies off 

 a rich scarlet, is so beautiful in autumn that on some 

 estates it has been planted in great quantity, not 

 only for cover, but so that sportsmen may enjoy its 

 colour during the shooting season. B. concinna is 

 another charming autumn-coloured leaved shrub 

 of dwarf growth. Gaultheria procumbens (Partridge 

 Berry) is too valuable to pass unnoticed. In winter 

 its leaves are stained with crimson. The leaves of 

 Cotoneaster horizontalis turn from green to rich shades 

 of chocolate or crimson. The shrub is of spreading 

 growth. Its evergreen ally, B. Aquifolium, turns a 

 glowing red or purple after the first frosts. The 

 Ghent Azaleas almost always colour richly, either 

 deep glowing crimson, bronzy red, or gold ; and of 

 other ericaceous plants the warm tints of Pieris 

 mariana and the rich crimson of the Enkianthus 

 should be mentioned. The taller American Vac- 

 ciniums (corymbosum and its various forms) are always 

 lovely. Our native Guelder Rose (Viburnum Opulus) 

 becomes crimson in autumn, whilst the Common 

 Hazel and Rhamnus Frangula often produce fine 

 effects in yellow. The feathery foliage of Spircea 

 Thunbergi is singularly beautiful when it changes 

 from its natural pale green to crimson ; and S. 

 prunifolia fl. pi. is perhaps more distinct than the 

 species, and two other Japanese shrubs (both, un- 

 fortunately, very rare) are remarkable for their 

 autumnal beauty. These are Disanthus cercidifolia, 

 an ally of the Witch Hazels, lovely claret colour, 

 and Viburnum alnifolium, crimson. 



