64 TREES AND SHRUBS 



in their autumnal livery of crimson, purple, scarlet, 

 or gold. It is curious that every season we may 

 notice species not usually conspicuous for their 

 autumn tints beautifully coloured. 



An over-vigorous, sappy growth, often the result 

 of a wet, warm autumn or too rich a soil, is certainly 

 detrimental to autumn colouring. Rhus cotinoides, an 

 American Sumach, worth growing for the beauty of 

 its colours in autumn, is one of the most unfailing 

 in this matter. But young plants, put out in well- 

 trenched, heavily-manured soil, will often fail to 

 colour at all till they get older and less vigorous. 

 The most beautifully-coloured examples of this 

 Sumach that we have seen grow in rather light 

 sandy soil. We have frequently noticed, too, that 

 various species of Vine (Vitis) when starved in pots 

 will colour exquisitely, whilst others, planted out in 

 the ordinary way, completely fail. We believe, 

 therefore, when planting with a view to the produc- 

 tion of autumnal colour, any great enrichment of 

 the soil is neither necessary nor advisable, provided 

 it is of moderate quality to start with. 



In the following notes, brief mention is made of 

 some of the best trees, shrubs, and climbers that 

 colour in autumn : — 



Trees 



First among these are the American Red Oaks. 

 Undoubtedly the best of these is a variety of Quercus 

 coccinea known as splendens and grayana. This not 

 only turns to a fine scarlet crimson, but it retains its 



