246 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



If we next turn our eyes upon the woods, we may behold 

 a spectacle of infinitely varied splendor. Masses of purple and 

 cinereous foliage are presented by the oaks, enlivened by the 

 bright green aments, that hang luxuriantly from their branches. 

 Among them are interspersed the purer and more lively green 

 of the beech trees, rendered still more light and airy by their 

 pale ashen stems ; also the slender spiry forms of the birch, 

 whose purple sprays afford by contrast, a peculiar lustre to 

 their shining verdure, from the lofty black birch that over- 

 tops the other forest groups, to the graceful coppices of white 

 birch, whose leaves already exhibit their tremulous habit, 

 when fanned by the passing winds. 



Though we cannot find in May those brilliant colors 

 among the leaves of the forest trees, which are the crowning 

 glory of autumn, 3^et the present month is more abundant in 

 contrasts than any other period. These contrasts increase in 

 beauty and variety until about the first of June. In early 

 May, set apart from the general nakedness of the woods, may 

 be seen, here and there, a clump of willows full of bright 

 golden aments, maples with buds, blossoms and foliage of 

 crimson, and interspersed among them, junipers, hemlocks 

 and other evergreens, that stand out from their assemblages, 

 like the natives of another clime. As the month advances, 

 while these contrasts remain, new ones are continually appear- 

 ing, as one tree after another assumes its vernal drapery, each 

 exhibiting a tint peculiar not only to the species, but often to 

 the individual and the situation, until hardly two trees in the 

 whole wood are alike in color. As the foliage ripens, the 

 different shades of green become more thoroughly blended 

 into a single uniform tint. But ere the process is completed, 

 the fruit trees have expanded their blossoms, and have 

 brought a new spectacle of contrasts into view. First of all, 

 the peach trees with their bright pink flowers, that appear 

 before the leaves, and cause the tree to resemble a single and 

 uniform bouquet : then the pear trees, with corols of perfect 

 whiteness, internally fringed with brown anthers, like long 

 dark eyelashes, that give them almost the countenance of 

 life ; then the cherry trees, with their pure white blossoms, 



