26 Common Trees 



WHERE TO STUDY TREES 



THE best place to study trees is right where you are — 

 if a tree happens to be near. If you are in a city 

 and it is not convenient for you to go out into the woods, 

 you can study the trees on the home grounds, along the 

 streets, or in the parks. Do not forget to get acquainted 

 with the tree that may stand near your front door. Other 

 satisfactory places are fence rows, stream banks, waste places, 

 abandoned fields, and woodlots. But the best place of all 

 to get an acquaintance with trees is out in the great forest 

 stretches on the mountain tops and in mountain valleys. 

 Out there the trees are so plentiful and look so natural. 



Then too we must not forget that many trees have been 

 planted in all parts of the State. Among these planted 

 trees are some very rare and interesting specimens. They 

 can be found on private estates, public parks, arboretums, 

 and forest plantations. A real tree treat is available to 

 those who will journey to these great tree places. 



Each year an increasing number of people go a-camping. 

 When in camp one has unexcelled opportunities to study 

 the native trees. The author has visited many places in 

 Massachusetts. At each were found from 40 to 75 different 

 native trees, and at some a considerable number of intro- 

 duced trees have been planted. To name and list the trees 

 on and about the camp ground is not only a pleasant past- 

 time but also a profitable undertaking. Rich, indeed, is 

 the boy or girl who can say "I can name all the trees about 

 our camp." "I have named and listed all the trees between 

 Oak lane and Cedarville," "Shoemaker's island is a tree 

 paradise — I found 57 different species there." To know 

 all the trees on a particular plot of ground is an achievement 

 of merit for any boy or girl, and even grown-up folk who 

 can name the trees that help to make our land so beautiful, 

 have a right to feel proud of their accomplishment. 



"Under this oak I love to sit and hear all the 

 things which its leaves have to tell. No printed leaves 

 have more treasures in history or of literature to those 

 who know how to listen." 



Henry Ward Beecher. 



