MOUNTAIN ASH. 277 



The autumn tinting of the handsome foliage of 

 fche Mountain Ash commences with a delicate flush 

 of crimson, which appears to suffuse the edges of 

 the leaflets, from which it spreads towards their 

 centres. But the tinge is at first so delicate and 

 so slight that it almost insensibly merges into the 

 prevailing green hue. The tips of the leaflets 

 have sometimes a bright and almost lurid glow of 

 red or reddish orange, whilst on the edges im- 

 mediately below them on either side a faint and 

 almost imperceptible tint of the same kind spreads 

 along towards the base. As the season advances 

 the hue increases in intensity and the whole leaf 

 is oftentimes suffused with a fiery glow that, seen 

 against the still lingering green and in conjunction 

 with the crimson flush of the beautiful berries, 

 presents a spectacle that is often magnificent. 



In ancient times the Mountain Ash was con- 

 sidered to provide an antidote to witchcraft ; and 

 even yet, in some parts of England, the super- 

 stition lingers. It has been, for instance, related 

 that in Yorkshire, not many years since, a peasant 

 cut some twigs from a e Roan Tree,' and nailed 

 them up against a cowhouse to prevent the evil 



