The Fall of the Leaf. 533 



in the shrubbery. Conspicuous among these are all the spe- 

 cies of the blueberry and whortleberry tribe, that yield a fairy- 

 like splendor to our wild upland pastures. Equally beautiful 

 and more brilliant are the leaves of the common creeper, that 

 often covers whole trees in our woods, mingling its pure scar- 

 let with the different colors of the tree that supports it. The 

 most of the sumachs exhibit a predominance of purple in the 

 hues of their foliage, mixed with their original verdure. The 

 viburnums and cornels are likewise variously shaded with 

 purple and crimson. 



The preceding remarks present an imperfect sketch of the 

 appearance of autumnal foliage, during the first period of the 

 fall of the leaf, when the yellow and scarlet hues are the 

 prevailing ones in our woodland scenery. During the second 

 period, very few of the yellows are to be seen, if we except 

 the yellowish green tints of the different species of willow. 

 The oaks are the glory of the second period, and are remark- 

 able for the long duration of their beauty. Though their hues 

 are neither so brilliant nor so variegated as those of the maples, 

 yet they are at this time almost the only deciduous trees, of 

 indigenous growth, that remain in foliage. Long after the 

 remainder of the wood is leafless, except the evergreens, the 

 brown, gray, chocolate, crimson and purple tints of the differ- 

 ent species of the oak lend a charm to the forests which can- 

 not be surpassed. The foliage of the oaks during summer is 

 not exceeded in its finely indented forms, in the pure lustre 

 of its surface, in its firmness, without any deficiency of trem- 

 ulous motion, and may be said to combine a greater variety 

 of those qualities that affect the mind with agreeable sensa- 

 tions, than that of any other tree. It is likewise remarkably 

 tenacious of its hold on the branches, where it often remains 

 until the opening of spring. Hence the rustling of the dry 

 oak leaf always pleasantly reminds one of the appearances of 

 nature, during her season of rest, and of our winter walks in 

 the forest. 



Among the shrubs that retain their leaves during the sec- 

 ond period, are the wild rose, the gooseberry, the barberry, 

 the sweet gall, and a few others. Of our fruit trees, the jeir, 



