S36 The Fall of the Leaf. 



The cause of the superior beauty of our autumnal hues, 

 compared with those of Europe, is undoubtedly the greater 

 intensity of the sun's rays and the greater proportion of clear 

 and dry weather in America, causing the leaves to arrive 

 sooner to maturity and old age. As these influences do not 

 act in the same way upon European trees when introduced 

 into this country, it would be important to note whether 

 American trees preserve their peculiar habit when transplant- 

 ed to European soils. There is reason to believe that, while 

 these tints are attributable to the influence of our hot sum- 

 mers and clear skies, the habit was acquired with the origin 

 of the species countless ages back, like the black skin of the 

 negro, and that it is now beyond any such climatal influ- 

 ence. Though it might have owed its origin to this pecul- 

 iarity of our climate, the habit is now one of the character- 

 istics of the species. In all cases the leaf becomes tinted 

 only when it has lost a certain portion of its vitality, and just 

 before it is ready to fall from the tree. 



The pines are not classed with deciduous trees : yet they 

 shed their leaves in autumn as regularly as the latter. Late 

 in October you may observe the yellow foliage which is 

 ready to fall, surrounding the last year's growth of the 

 branches, and exhibiting a curious intermixture of yellow 

 with the green growth of the last summer. These leaves 

 always turn yellow before they fall: you never find the 

 green leaves of a pine tree, as you do of many other trees, 

 mixed with the other foliage upon the ground. The same 

 fact may be noticed of the oaks. 



As late as the second week in November we can seldom 

 find one of our indigenous trees with any green leaves upon 

 it, unless it be a young tree, under the protection of woods. 

 The third period has now commenced ; and the fall of the 

 leaf is nearly completed. The oaks, though not entirely 

 stript of their leafy honors, have lost the beauty of their hues, 

 and bear their heads less proudly among the leafless tenants 

 of the forest. The grass already exhibits a seared and brown 

 appearance, and is becoming tasteless to the flocks. A few 

 asters may still be seen, a golden-rod in damp places, an oc- 



