THE FALL OF THE LEAF. 277 



different opinion, have, for the purpose of adding a pic- 

 turesque charm to the scenes they portray, most fre- 

 quently chosen the autumn for their representations, 

 and given to their trees the beautiful tints of the declin- 

 ing year. 



If we would learn the full comparative value of trees, 

 as ornamental objects, it is necessary to study them 

 under the different aspects they assume, during each of 

 the four seasons. They should be observed in May 

 and June, when they are putting forth their leaves and 

 blossoms; in July and August, when they have com- 

 pleted the growth and maturity of their foliage ; in 

 October, when they are hung with fruits, and are as- 

 suming the tints that precede their decay ; and lastly, 

 in December and later, when they appear in their 

 denuded state, and have lost all their beauty, except 

 that of the forms and arrangements of their branches. 

 Under each of these aspects, they are a study which 

 cannot fail to reward the observer, by affording him 

 many new ideas, which will assist him in comprehend- 

 ing the beauty and grandeur of vegetable forms and 

 colors. 



The season of the fall of the leaf commences, in 

 general, about the twentieth of September, and varying 

 with the character of the weather, continues until near 

 the third week in November. It occupies a space of 

 about two months, and may be divided into three 

 periods. The first includes the time between the- 

 twentieth of September and the middle of the next 

 month, when the maple, the ash, the tupelo, the cree- 

 per, the hickory, the beech, and the chestnut are in. 

 their full splendor. During this period the yellow,, 

 orange, and scarlet hues predominate in the tints of the 

 foliage. The second period occupies a space of about 



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