DECIDUOUS TREES. 401 



scenery at that season of the year. The prevaiUng tint of the 

 foliage is then a deep purplish red, unlike any symptom of decay, 

 and quite as rich as are commonly seen in the darker blossoms of 

 a dutch parterre. This is sometimes varied by a shade deeper or 

 lighter, and occasionally an orange tint is assumed. When planted 

 in the neighborhood of our fine maples, ashes, and other trees re- 

 markable for their autumnal coloring, the effect in a warm dry 

 autumn is almost magical." 



Loudon says of it : " When bruised, the leaves are fragrant at 

 all seasons ; but in the spring, when they are at first unfolding after 

 a warm shower, the surrounding air is filled with their refreshing 

 odor." 



The liquidamber does best in a moist soil and sheltered situa- 

 tion. Though less beautiful in dry gravelly soils than the sugar 

 maple, its form, and leaves, and autumn colors, ally it to the maple 

 family, and it should be planted where trees of that species are 

 made a specialty. We will add one trait of its autumn color that 

 is not included in Downing's excellent description — its peculiar 

 golden bronze tone, caused by the mingling of green, yellow and red 

 leaves in its head. This tone is, at the first glance, less brilliant 

 than the colors of the scarlet maple and scarlet oak ; but as the 

 eye rests upon the tree it seems to drink deeper and deeper of 

 the colors until the tree fairly seems to glow with a fascination re- 

 motely allied to the effect produced by gazing at the clouds and 

 sky of a gorgeous sunset. 



THE TUPELO OR PEPERIDGE TREE. Nyssa. 



There are several species of the tupelo. The common one 

 in the northern States is the Nyssa biflora, or twin-flowered, 

 known in some regions as the sour gum. It is usually found in 

 wet ground, and when grown in swampy places is a conical, rigid, 

 gloomy tree. Its branches are in level strata around a centre 

 stem like those of the firs, and have the same hard, thorny rami- 

 fication of twigs that characterizes the pin oak. Its top in the 

 forest usually turns to one side after the tree is from thirty to forty 

 26 



