AUTUMN IN THE GARDEN 177 



whiteness ofMychett white ; Ryecroft glory, orange ; 

 Notaire groz, pink ; the crimson Roi des Precoc^s, 

 and the bronzy red of Ambroise Thomas are amongst 

 the most acceptable colours in this newer race. 



But autumn is the season for colour in the 

 woodland, and though this is the herald of wintry 

 days which are more fascinating, more invigorating, 

 and more interesting to many than even the scented 

 gardens of summer, there is in October and early 

 November a glow of hues from the trees in garden 

 and forest. And in these gardening thoughts I 

 may perhaps reiterate the opinion I have before 

 expressed that in these autumn colours there is a 

 certain mystery. We have never exactly determined 

 the conditions that produce the richest colours. 

 Probably, as I mentioned in my work on Trees and 

 Shrubs, the conditions most favourable generally are 

 provided by a good growing season — that is, a warm, 

 moist summer — followed by a dry, sunny autumn. 

 But it frequently happens after what one would 

 regard as favourable seasons, that species usually 

 quite trustworthy in this matter fail to colour well. 

 Probably one set of conditions does not suit all 

 trees and shrubs in this respect. To produce the 

 colouration of the leaf just before it falls certain 

 chemical changes in its composition take place. To 



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