Feb. I860.] eliiott society. 17 



more favorable to its growth than ours is ; where it constitutes one of the rich- 

 est features of Autumn scenery, its yellow, dazzling foliage, combined with 

 that of the Hickory, (to both of which the comparison of "molten gold" has 

 not inappropriately been applied,) contrasting with the fiery hues of Gum and 

 Dogwood, of the red and scarlet Oaks. By the 20th Dec. it was quite destitute 

 of leaves ; but might be readily recognized at a distance by its pecuHar, upright 

 and elongated cones, stark and pale against the sky, which remain on during , 

 the whole Winter- Later, towards the close, the smooth leaf -buds half an inch^' 

 in length commence to appear, conical, on their terete pedicels, at the extrem- 

 ities of the purple-brown twigs. Kalm noted that the leaves were still entirely 

 green on the 5th Oct. in the vicinity of Philadelphia. 



The Scarlet-flowering, Eed, or Swamp Maple, (Acer ruhrum, ) and the Beech, 

 ( Fagus sylvestris, ) unite their mellowing tints to moderate the more gorgeous 

 hues of other contributors to the picture. The leaves of the Maple are now 

 yellow with a slight admixture of red. They are commencing to fall rapidly, 

 and the tree is bare by the 10th Dec. By the 20th it had commenced to form 

 its red flower-buds which in the next month expand into the blossoms and scar- 

 let samaras which are the first harbingers of Spring. When the leaves are re- 

 tained longer they are of a bright crimson. 



" nor unnoted pass 



Tiie Sycamore, capricious In atttre, 



Now green, now tawny, and ere Autumn yet 



Has changed the woods in scarlet honours bright." 



CowPER, Task. 



The Maple loves the swamp ; but the Beech is not unfrequently associated 

 with it on the insular knolls or rising grounds. We are more accustomed to its 

 presence, however, on the rich, level high-lands — 



' ' The veteran Beech that on the plain 

 Collects at eve the playful train—" 



Wharton, 



Its conspicuous masses of foliage, though of a subdued yellow, spreading low 

 and far to the ground, were at this jtime mostly changed to a modest Uvery of 

 russet-brown. 



" Unloved this Beech will gather hrown, 

 This Maple burn Itself away." 



Tennysok, In Memoriam. 



A few leaves only were falling. By the middle of Dec. large trees have their 

 crowns stripped in exposed localities, but generally they remain undenuded 

 most of the Winter. Younger trees retain them the whole Winter. Even as far 

 North as New Jersey, Kalm writes that, whether great or small, they always 

 kept a considerable part of their leaves during the whole Winter, even till 

 Spring. The greater trees kept the lowermost leaves. The mast has di-opped 

 VOL. n. 3 PuWished July, 1S85. 



