The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-05
WINTER BEAUTIES OF TIE PARK.

town with the approach OF cold weather deny
themselves long season OF enjoyment After
Central Park has passed through tho fitful
charm OF spring the heats OF summer. and the
splendors Of autumn. this great garden takes
on quiet loneliness addressed peculiarly to
those loyal souls that ind Joy In every mood Of
nature. At this moment that charming
shrub, tho japanese barberry. is shedding its
tiny red leaves In thick mat beneath its
branches. In order that the gloss and beauty
OF Its crimson berries may the better appear.
The berries hang on for weeks. and make
q defiant show Of fruit when tho first
SHOWS are on the ground. Hall dozen other
shrubs and tree are thus adorned with bril-
liant fruitage. The barberry is n cheerful
md obliginR little shrub 1t seldom grows
moro than three or three and halt feet high.
but 1t thrives in the many spots OF Central
Park where thin soil ovcries the ro ky ribs
OF the island. The Kentucky bluegrass over
such spots turns sere in the August draughts.
but tho barberry lives and thrives. OK all tho
fruit bearing evergreen tho hardest to dis
cover in Central Park is the holly. Ono comes
upon 1t frequently In woodlands a degree or
more south OF New York. and at sight Of its
cheerful freshness amid the general leaden
hue about. acknowledges the truth OF the say
ing that 1.-THE Greenest OF all green leaves are
the high leaves OF the holly"
But Central Park Is rich In everereens. and
they now begin to assert their charm. Some
OF tho finest stand in the narrow lawn just
west OF the Croton reservoirs. and the group
near tho Bolivar statue. between Eighty-second
and Eighty. third streets. includes several Nor
way spruces OF rare beauty. The English elms.
which are 30 much less beautiful than the
American variety as to attract little attention
when tho latter are in leaf now have their
innings. for they stand full leaved in green
amid millions Of bare twgs. Only born and
hardened Briton could find in this sturdy tree.
with its dense mass OF branches and priln.
small leaves. any such marvel Of grace
as belongs to that fountain OF greensry.
its American sister. As to the American
elms. they havo n perfection Of charm ut this
season which they lacked all summer. because
tho foliage OF every American elm was ravaged
from its first unfolding so that it never reached
perfection. while tho bare trunks. twiss and
branches OF to-day have escaped unframed
from the elm beetle. The hundred elms OF tho
Mall mover looked moro beautiful than now.
The illusion OF cathedral aislos and arches is
ing lends, to the whole dgnitv and gloom
that heiGhtens the illusion. Only the oak.
ponderous right Of a giant puGilist straight
| from the shoulder. or tho chestnut. which now
nnH then rsahSs through the w we for
athletic spread and poise OF limb.
This leuiless season seems to flx attention
and i ire sf. Tn" ss
Iat nH any given tree as shade size
and shape Of Leaf or form n. and r"9r O. h"s
f to Stroll in Central PARK may give purpose. IN.
tc,est and variety to his walks BY. testing his
own roweirs, Of SbstrSatiop in an ef
rses Saf the sq"hsrn are and eastern
D,rl t,pl. IN
conclus ions. and most men will be astonished
to lind how little they have observed OF what
Rabitue e visitors Sie to the f Park have no.
tced that tho thin green moss or ichen.
many ees Is found onS fps
tree. save occasionally, upon trees long, eX-
posed to tho weather. when almost the whole
other popularity OF the dcnosit, is that i es:
chews alike the toughest and the smoo: hest
nuts. and the white birch. Gut avoids tho
| larLer trees Of the first two srecies. rs well as
tines an interesting limb or trunk so protects
n tree that part of the surface is green with
The muscular and almost human quality Of
the beech especially, OF some varieties. now
out Mt psfnar IN so v as to
ties the Illusion OF thews and tendons. and
even veins and arteries. IS 50 strong that ono
warm to the touch. t. see it vince and bleed
when ,pricked. This likeness to tho human
ture Of the beech. When one examines the
peculiar muscle-lik ridges OF tho limbs. one
rnt n to vs II tpfh a
Thus ono beautiful effect makes possible an
other. for tho level fronds OF the. beecn one Of
its chief charms In summer. could not have hat
horizontal direction save by tho gid Of the
sstrencthening rib at the JUNCTION Of LIMB and
is distinguished by IL low, stocky hole with
many small branches. In thi; it is not unlike
twigs and Of dark. beautifully chased bark.
The hirches Of several sorts ar" now eN-
tyunfs aha 9y ct r."
tatterel that its reddish yellow inner bark OK.
curling blond hair. Some Of the most beauti-
| fu! white, hirches. growing singly or in clumps
OF the Park. above the tennis ground near the
reservoirs 5. and in tho woodlnnd II is T. h" PEE
e"nps they never iai to lean M at such angles
produce graceful and picturesque effects.
The Norway maple. which in summer is a
| dense mass OF dark green foliage and in early
covered with beautifully grained bark and
calls the, apprehension with which his Goy;sh
| his native region. Their limbs begin high up
only the most reckless i, and least imaginative
| few fine buttonwo"ds which at this season
| begin TO set Off the perlous character Of their
| many visitors visions of childish fears touch
| Ing the treachery Of the buttonwood.
Tho horse chestnuts. now haired OF leaves.
| show in some measure the muscular quality
| OF the beech. There are only q few horse chest
puts in Central Park and h the largest Of them
| round the Yam Conrtlandt mansion in Van
| Courtlandt Park. The desnised ailantus also
great beauty in It's bark markings. and in the
| foot OF the stalk upon which the leaves nre
arranged. II looks rs II this feature Of the
| ailantus m chit have suggested the Jaws OF
the nautical boom.
| ties OF bark and limbs should stand In one OF
| the pathways or the wooded hillside west OF
| Harlem Mere and glance through the mist OF
trunks sprend about him. As he locke he will
| begin to realize the enormous resourccfulness
| OF nature in providing variety and distinction
| through all her works. One may count a
| dozen shades Of bark. from bright silver to
dark olive and twice rs many general chnrnc-
markings. Not alone the trees. but Us well
| the vines. are full OF character. Tho wis