DAYS OF THE EVERGREEN 



WHEN the last oak leaves fall in early December, the foliage 

 of the evergreen trees and shrubs sets a new note of colour 

 in the landscape. In spring and summer the dark tones of 

 holly and yew and pine subordinate them to the gayer verdure 

 of the deciduous trees ; and in autumn the deep evergreen 

 foliage chiefly serves as a foil to the more splendid hues of 

 the dying leaves, and attracts little independent notice. It 

 is not until the whole colour-scheme of nature is subdued to 

 its winter delicacy, that the strong and lustrous beauty of the 

 evergreen trees becomes dominant in the woods and hedge- 

 rows. In the short midwinter days, it is the most con- 

 spicuous feature of vegetable vitality ; and it stands as an 

 emblem and promise of the renewal of vigour in spring. 



The beauty of evergreens at midwinter is perhaps seen 

 best of all in tracts of mixed and open woodland, where 

 clumps of well-grown hollies are scattered among beeches and 

 other deciduous trees. At other seasons the hollies seem 

 obscure and gloomy ; now they stand forth in the winter 

 light with a depth and brilliancy of verdure which is partly 

 due to the subdued tones of the surrounding vegetation in its 

 winter phases, and partly to the innumerable reflections from 

 the facets of their glossy leaves. The eye is now able to 

 appreciate, far better than in spring or summer, the essential 



264 



