232 October — Ferns. 



XLIII. 



Ferns — Robinia — Oak, Birch, Ash — Poplar — Chestnut — Cherry 

 and Pear — Pear — Hornbeam — Beech — Willow. 



AS we get deeper into autumn the changes of vege- 

 tation accelerate. The ferns turn red and yel- 

 low to begin with, to end in a uniform dry light red ; 

 generally the change is completed about the middle of 

 October. Some trees turn yellow in places, a leaf or two 

 at a time, like the walnut ; the robinia does the same : 

 indeed, in the robinia it is not by leaves but by leaflets 

 that the process begins. Oak, birch, and ash, begin by 

 showing yellow leaves here and there, like a sudden 

 attack of disease ; but, considered as a whole, an ash- 

 tree passes from green through pale yellowish-green to 

 yellow. The poplar yellows all over gradually. Chest- 

 nuts at this time are much denuded of leaves ; those 

 which remain are green, or brown, or yellow, about one- 

 third of each, and the yellow ones are often brown 

 about their edges. Cherry and pear-trees give most of 

 the red in the woods, the latter often reaching a bright 

 scarlet, which tells with great effect in the distance. 

 Some pear-trees turn darker than others, and there are 

 often both vivid red and fresh green together on the 

 same tree. So in hornbeam ; you have pale yellow 

 leaves and leaves of reddish gold, whilst the rest are 



