LIME. 209 



gone melted in the pervading and final hue the 

 fiery colour of the brown is still striking and beau- 

 ful in the mass, especially when thrown out in 

 strong relief against either the still green leaves 

 which may chance to clothe the stems of neigh- 

 bouring Beeches or against the more persistent 

 verdancy of adjoining Oaks. 



Though amongst the earliest of trees which im- 

 part their beauty to the spring, the Lime is the first 

 to show symptoms of change. All the stages of 

 this change are beautiful for the colouring which 

 indicates the coming fall and the final departure 

 from the twigs, though more rapid, by comparison 

 with leaves of other trees, in spreading over the 

 leafy surface than the ordinary progress of 

 autumnal discolouration, advances, at first, with 

 sufficient slowness to permit of the fullest appre- 

 ciation of the contrasts afforded by the association 

 of varying tints. The Lime leaf is usually sup- 

 ported by a rather long stalk and is more or less 

 heart-shaped at the base and sharply pointed at 

 the apex, whilst the body of the leaf is rounded in 

 form. These general features vary in different 



