DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 139 



gance of their blossoms. Among" all the species, both native 

 and foreign, we consider the Scarlet-flowering maple as de- 

 cidedly the most beautiful tree. In the spring, this species 

 bursts out in gay tufts of red blossoms; which enliven both 

 its own branches and the surrounding scene, long before 

 a leaf is seen on other deciduous trees, and when the only 

 other appearances of vegetation are a few catkins of some wil- 

 lows or poplars, swelling into bloom. At that season of the 

 year, the Scarlet maple is certainly the most beautiful tree of 

 our forests. Besides this, it grows well either in the very moist 

 soil of swamps, or the dry one of upland ridges, forms a fine 

 clustering head of foliage, and produces an ample and delight- 

 ful shade ; while it is also as little infected by insects of any 

 description as any other tree. The latter advantage, the 

 Sugar maple and our other varieties, equally possess. 

 As a handsome spreading tree, perhaps the White maple de- 

 serves most praise, its outline and surface being in many 

 cases quite picturesque. There is no quality, however, for 

 which the American maples are entitled to higher considera- 

 tion as desirable objects in scenery, than for the exquisite 

 beauty which their foliage assumes in autumn, as it fades and 

 gradually dies ofi". At the first approach of cold, we can just 

 perceive a bright yellow stealing over the leaves, then a deeper 

 golden tint, then a few faint blushes, until at length the whole 

 mass of foliage becomes one blaze of crimson or orange. 



*' Tints that the maple woods disclose 

 Like opening buds or fading rose, 

 Or various as those hues, that dye 

 The clouds that deck a sunset sky." 



The contrast of colouring exhibited on many of our fine 

 river shores in a warm dry autumn, is perhaps superior to 

 any thing of the kind in the world : and the chief and most 



