The difference between eastern North America and western Europe 
in the autumn coloring of the native plants of these two regions is now 
well shown in the Arboretum. The leaves of the plants of eastern 
North America are now for the most part brilliantly colored or have 
colored and fallen, while the leaves of the trees and shrubs of Europe 
are still green, and in the case of many of these plants the leaves fall 
and wither with little change of color. This interesting fact is seen in 
the American species of the genus Fagus. The American Beech now 
enlivens the forest with the yellow tints of its leaves, while the leaves 
of the European Beech are still almost as green as they were at mid- 
summer. The leaves of the American Elm have already fallen except 
in the case of vigorous trees which still show the yellow tints of autumn, 
while the leaves of all forms of European and Asiatic Elms are still 
fresh and green. The leaves of Viburnum Lantana, the Wayfaring- 
tree of Europe, are still dark green or only slightly tinged with red 
along the margins, while the North American Viburnum Lentago, V. 
prunifolium and V. cassinoides are splendid in their autumn dress 
which is set off by their dark blue fruits. The contrast between old 
and new world plants in this respect is even more marked in the Vi- 
burnums of the Opulus group. Of these the leaves of the European 
Viburnum Opulus are still dark green and as fresh as id July; those of 
V. americanum, the native High-bush Cranberry, so-called, have turned 
to shades of yellow and red and are fast falling, while those of V. Sar- 
gentii of northeastern Asia, which were bright orange-red two weeks 
ago, have almost disappeared. 
Many of the trees and shrubs of eastern Asia, however, are as brilliant 
in color in autumn as those of related American species. On a few 
Asiatic plants the autumn foliage is even more beautiful than that of the 
American plants in the same genus. The collection of grapes (Vitis) illus- 
trates this fact. This collection, which is now well established on the 
trellis at the east end of the Shrub Collection, is one of the most success- 
ful groups in the Arboretum, and is particularly valuable in showing the 
decorative value of many of the grapevines of eastern America which 
have not before been often cultivated. The autumn leaves of American 
species turn yellow or remain green until touched by frost, to which they 
are very sensitive, but on the principal Japanese species, Vitis Coign- 
etiae , a large and vigorous vine with immense semicoriaceous leaves, the 
leaves in the autumn turn brilliant scarlet. They are not always as 
brilliant here, however, as they are this season for Vitis Coignetiae is a 
plant from the far north and it is possible that the climate of eastern 
Massachusetts is not severe enough to bring out every year all its autum- 
nal beauty. It is, however, one of the handsomest of the grapevines in 
the Arboretum collection, and for Canada and other cold regions it may 
be expected to become the most valuable of hardy vines. 
The Arboretum will be grateful for any publicity 
given these Bulletins. 
