ORNAMENTAL PLANTING. 223 



3. The colours of the leaves. Some deciduous trees 

 put forth their leaves early, others late ; but at whatever 

 time they appear, being constantly moistened with the 

 showers of spring, they present the eye with an agreeable 

 freshness which we in vain look for at a later date. The 

 varied tints of the bursting leaves form a most agreeable 

 feature in the landscape in spring the blood-red of the 

 Purple Beech, the yellow of the Caragana, offer contrasts 

 in themselves pleasing, but which lessen in intensity as 

 the summer advances. 



With evergreens the difference in colour between the 

 new growth and the old, especially in the Pine tribe, is too 

 strongly marked to escape notice, and produces a very 

 pleasing variety. The darkest and the lightest shades 

 of green are often thus brought in immediate contact. 

 Within view of the spot where these lines were written 

 is a stream, whose margin at the time they were penned 

 was overhung with the pale tender green spray of a 

 Weeping Willow ; behind were dark masses of the 

 common Yew, and still further beyond groups of blos- 

 soming Hawthorn. The effect of this combination was 

 admirable. Onward still, and in the distant upland were 

 trees innumerable, but so far as could be distinguished, 

 each seemed but a counterpart of the other. 



Although not in a severely critical mood, I have been 

 indulging the fancy by obliterating certain objects within 

 range of sight some of the comparatively meaningless 

 trees which in many instances have been planted by the 

 hand of man, but more commonly by nature. 



In their places I have conjured up examples of the 

 rarer and more modern trees, and the landscape thus 

 improved lies before me in increased loveliness. I have 

 gazed and am satisfied. The youth and freshness of 

 spring are still there, but the monotony has disappeared ; 

 the whole landscape is inspirited. 



In endeavouring to give utterance to these views I do 

 not seek to ignore the fact that the prevailing colour in 



