250 AUTUMNAL FOLIAGE 



others crimson and red, others again displaying a 

 gorgeous blend of both tints. 



Vitis coignetce, finest of all the ornamental vines, is 

 another plant that oscillates between red and yellow ; 

 so it should be tested before being planted in the posi- 

 tion it is intended to adorn. Larches take high rank 

 among the rich yellows, both the European and the 

 Japanese species; so does the common birch, though 

 this is one of the few trees that have missed fire this 

 autumn, casting most of its leaves during the dry spell 

 in September. The Tibetan birch (Betula Bhojputra} 

 is already in the condition of 



' Neptune and Venus, 

 And swate Nicodemus, 

 Standing mother naked in the open air.' 



The Lespedezas attract notice at this season, long after 

 their clusters of purple and rose pea-flowers have 

 departed. It would be hard to beat L. cyrtobothria, a 

 rather recent introduction, for grace of form and rich- 

 ness of colour. 



For brilliant red, approaching vermilion, our native 

 gean or wild cherry can give several shades to the 

 scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), and beat it easily. This 

 neglected tree should be much more generally planted, 

 for it grows rapidly, propagates itself freely by seed, 

 and the timber is invaluable to cabinet-makers. Of the 

 oak aforesaid, it may be said that when it is good, it is 

 very, very good; when it is inferior, it is worthless. 

 The best I ever had from an English nursery were sup- 

 plied by old Antony Waterer, of Woking, now in the 

 land o' the leal. One is very apt to be supplied with 



