Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-02

exterminate most of the flowers that have
filled the landscape with bright colors. but
they put new blood In our veins, and we
know that they are ripening the chestnuts.
By the end Of the third week in October we
can set out with bucket or basket, sure Of
successful chestnuting excursion. And
II on our way we keep proper watch we
shall probably have an opportunity to take
the proverbial long pole and knock a few
persimmons, from which the same frostS
Will have removed the puckering qualities.
With chestnuts plentiful, every walk be.
comes feast. And IL the many delightful
days which October brings tempt US to SO
many outdoor excursions that the taste of
chestnuts becomes cheap know where we
can find a far richer flavor with which to
please our palates. Down in the hollow
beside the stream grows the hazel nut,
whose toothsome kernel is as much finer
than the chestnut as the wild rose beside
it expanding second bloom for the year is
finer than the coarse-habited golden rod,
now far past it's zenith.
Gentfan and Witch Hazel.
By the time the chestnuts are ready for
squirrel and man the glow of the golden
rod has faded and the fields have known
their last conqueror among the floral hosts;
the purple and gold of the asters and sun
flowers have been withdrawn, and the floral
ranks have been generally reduced to
stragglers. But hid in the dark recesses of
low tangled woods there is yet newcomer
moisture pervades and the rays of the sun
do not penetrate, the beautiful closed gen.
tan fulfills it's destiny.
1t holds aloft at the summit of its stem,
for the benefit of the botanical explorer, a
bunch of blossoms of deep rich blue, " hich,
however, as though the genius of the plant
realized the necessity, owing to the late
date of blooming, of added protection for
not expand, but, remaining 5ud-like in ap-
pearance, carry on the changes from
bloom to seed behind closed. doors, in ex-
ecutive session, it were. And there is
yet another individual of the plant world
that delays until the latter part of Octo-
Der its blooming period. Most trees and
shrubs produce their blossoms before their
leaves appear, as, for instance, the sassa-
fras. spice bush, Towering dogwood and
wild azalia; others, such as the oaks ana
hornbeams develop them with OF shortly
after the appearance of the leaves; and yet
others, like the chestnut and poke, come
into bloom after the leaves are fully de
veloped. But it remains for the witch
hazel to wait until its leaves are falling be-
fore it blossoms. Nor does it's eccentricity
end here. For, besides commencing it's
work just the other plants have put UP
their shutters 1t finishes just as they are
taking them down again, making spring,
instead of autumn, it's harvest time. Most
plants. when later than usual in starting
the day, make taste and crowd their Ia
bors into as short 4 space of time as pos
sible; but the witch hazel, when tardy, pa
tiently waits in a state of suspended ami
nation during the whole night or winter.
and opens it's delayed flowers early in the
following spring. At least suspect this TO
be the explanation of the witch hazel Bios
SONS have gathered in March.
Blaze of Color.
1t is customary in pyrotechnic displays
to conclude with grand burst of fire
works, ss an impressive elimination Of the
h n
manner in which nature ends her floral
display.
After the varied exhibition of Individual
pieces from liverwort to witch hazel, Is
concluded, and when the interest in the
performance is somewhat stated. she sets
off the whole forest at once in one immense
blaze of color. Intimations of this con-
forepart of the month. The dogwoods
have generally burst into orange flame. in
the midst of which their scarlet berries
CLEAN out like jewels. Some of the ma
and others are largely SO. The oaks dis
play here and there a Redeemed spray.
But after the 18th what changes manifest
themselves from day to day. 1t is then
that the true character of each tree Is
brought out, just as the real characters of
men are shown by the proximity of death.
The oaks sturdy and majestic throughout
the summer, retain these qualities unblem-
and beeches bring no disappointment to the
expectations of their friends. But the
hickories and chestnuts, from which much
might be looked for. are rather mediocre in
their brownish yellow garb. while many of
the tulip trees those tall, upright, noble
looking specimens of arborhood, which
gave SO much promise In the spring, with
their snowy blossoms, beside which the
greenish tassels of the oaks looked mean
and insignificant, have nothing better to
contribute to the autumnal bouquet than a
dizzy light brown, which shows sordidy
amid the brilliant tints Of their neighbors.
Despite their lofty bearing and elegant at
tainments they sink to an ignominious
end.
The beech is worthy of special mention.
Like Petronius Arbiter it displays In death
the elegance that has characterized 1t
through life. Its smooth, silvery trunk
and elongated, slender branches and the
long finely painted buds in which it's leaves
first appear give it an air of distinction
that is appreciable to the merely casual
observer. In the closing chapter of it's
annual life it fully maintains this high
standard. Its autumnal dress shows three
cclors disposed in this artistic manner: A
slightly purplish brown at the end of the
branches, shading into a greenish yellow,
which In turn shades into a yellowish
green near the trunk. HENRY OLDYS.