AUTUMN IN THE GARDEN 179 



a certain age. Few of the more popular trees for 

 their autumn colouring contribute more to the 

 gaiety of the landscape in autumn than the Liquid- 

 amhar styraciflua ; and a triumph of colouring 

 comes from the yellowing leaves of the tulip tree 

 [Liriodendron tuKpifera), and the birches, one of 

 which appeals most to me being Betula corylifolia, 

 of which the foliage is more of an orange colouring 

 than the birch of the woodland. But many other 

 trees conspicuous for their autumn colouring occur 

 to mind — the horse-chestnut, wild cherry, black 

 and Lombardy poplars, the maples — the Japanese 

 species and varieties in particular — amelanchier, 

 the soft golden Ginkgo biloba, and the Parrotia 

 persica, which is one of the first trees I remember 

 as possessing a wonderful autumn colouring. This 

 was several years ago, and the tree was in the 

 Royal Gardens, Kew ; every leaf was a study in 

 colour, an association of brilliant tints. 



These notes on the autumn colouring of trees 

 and shrubs may be to some wearisome, but without 

 the wonderful transition from the green leaf of 

 summer to the glorious hues of autumn, our 

 country would lose much of its charm. Spring 

 without its budding leaves, its wild-flowers, summer 

 without the honeysuckle and wild rose scenting the 



