  We present optical photometry and spectroscopy of the X-ray transient XTE
J1859+226, obtained during outburst and its subsequent decay to quiescence.
Both the X-ray and optical properties are very similar to those of well-studied
black hole soft X-ray transients. We have detected 3 minioutbursts, when XTE
J1859+226 was approaching quiescence, as has been previously detected in the
Soft X-Ray Transients GRO J0422+32 and GRS 1009-45. By 24 Aug 2000 the system
had reached quiescence with R=22.48+/-0.07. The estimated distance to the
source is ~11 kpc. Photometry taken during quiescence shows a sinusoidal
modulation with a peak to peak amplitude of about 0.4 mag. A period analysis
suggests that periods from 0.28 to 0.47 days are equally possible at the 68%
confidence level. The amplitude of the quiescent light curve and the relatively
low ratio of X-ray to optical flux, indicates that the binary inclination
should be high. The measured colours during the outburst allows us to obtain
the basic properties of the disc, which agrees well with irradiated disc model
predictions.
