THEIR AUTUMN GLORY 



verse. The brown leaves which long persist on 

 some trees (Beech, Chestnut, and certain Oaks), 

 though darker than the yellow or orange from which 

 they often turn, are no exception, since these leaves 

 are dead and the brown colour is only assumed after 

 vitality has vanished. 



Some species are perfectly uniform in their colours ; 

 others, on the contrary, display a very wide range of 

 colour. For example the Maidenhair-tree, the Tulip- 

 tree, and Birch are invariably yellow; the Tupelo, 

 Sumach, and White Oak chiefly red, while Maples are 

 of as many colours as if they were of different species. 

 But each individual tree shows nearly the same 

 tints every year even as an Apple-tree bears fruit of 

 the same tints from year to year. 



The Red Maple (Acer rubrum), so abundant in 

 swamp and wood, roadside, and on dry hilltop, is 

 the crowning glory of a New England autumn. By 

 the last week of August it commences to assume a 

 purplish hue; sometimes a solitary branch is tinted, 

 frequently the colouring process begins at the top 

 of the tree and the purple crown of autumn is placed 

 on the green brow of summer. Trees growing side 

 by side are seldom alike, and in a group may be seen 

 almost as many shades of colour as there are trees. 

 Some are entirely yellow, others scarlet, some crim- 

 son, purple, or orange, others variegated with several 



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