mn 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. This is
perhaps one of the loveliest of all autumn-tinted shrubs, and should be
more planted. 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 production 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 foliage for some weeks after the colour has been acquired--sometimes
almost up to Christmas. Other good Oaks, not so certain, however, as the
preceding, are _Quercus marylandica_ (or _nigra_), _Q. heterophylla_,
_Q. imbricaria_, and _Q. palustris_, all of which turn red. The Tupelo
tree (_Nyssa sylvatica_) turns a fine burnished bronzy red. A tree
remarkable for the size of its leaves, and especially for the rich
golden yellow they put on in autumn, is _Carya tomentosa_, but, like
most of the Hickories, it is scarcely known in gardens. _Carya sulcata_
is somewhat similar. The Common Elm is usually very beautiful in the
soft yellow tints of its leaves in autumn, but another Elm of more
distinct aspect is _Ulmus pumila_, a low tree whose small leaves are
retained till late in the year, and turn golden yellow before they fall.
_Liquidambar styraciflua_ has long been valued for its fading foliage of
purple red, but not so well known is the lovely yellow of the Fern-like
foliage of the Honey Locust (_Gleditschia triacanthos_). The Tulip tree
(_Liriodendron_), the Nettle trees (_Celtis_), the _Zelkowas_, and
several of the Birches turn yellow, one of the best of the Birches being
_Betula corylifolia_, which turns a rich orang