COLOUR IN MY GARDEN 



larly striking figure in autumn when its foliage turns a 

 clear bright yellow. But none is so charming as the Paper 

 Birch (B. papyrifera), its straight, cream-white trunk re- 

 flected upon the surface of the water and its slender branches 

 drooping above a carpet of golden Daffodils; or again a 

 radiant revelation when in autumn its delicate leafage col- 

 ours to a warm amber. 



Nyssa sylvatica, the Sour Gum or Tupelo, is a moisture 

 lover. It is a slow-growing tree but is so handsome when its 

 leathery leaves turn to flaming scarlet that it is worth 

 waiting for. The Tupelo is often to be seen a solitary, 

 dominating figure in pastures or fields for some reason 

 spared when other trees were sacrificed before the march of 

 agriculture. And it is thus it shows to best advantage. It 

 is not a tree for crowded places and by the waterside should 

 stand alone to reach out its horizontal, slightly drooping 

 branches to their full bent. 



The Liquidamber, or Sweet Gum, is also a striking tree 

 but less hardy than the Tupelo and quite different in ap- 

 pearance. Its leaves are somewhat like those of the Maple. 

 Harriet Keeler says the "autumnal foliage is not simply a 

 flame, it is a conflagration." Both the Tupelo and the 

 Liquidamber are difficult to transplant, so quite small speci- 

 mens are best for experiment. 



There is not here sufficient space to touch, save lightly, 

 upon the many fine trees that will grow beside and beautify 

 our water margins. There is the Cockspur Thorn (Cratae- 

 gus Crus-galli), with its curiously directed branches so dis- 

 tinct when leafless; the Swamp Maple (Acer rubrum), that 

 touches with a scarlet finger of warning the winding length 



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