280 In Touch with Nature. 



since discovered, I find he associates the tree with 

 wet grounds, " round the water-pits," as he has it; 

 and of the wood itself remarks, it " is very good 

 for joiners' instruments ; . . . but, after being cut 

 down and lain exposed to sunshine and rain, it is 

 the first wood which rots, and in a year's time 

 there is nothing left but what is useless." Let me 

 add, that as firewood it is exasperating, and many 

 an evening has been spoiled for me by having too 

 much of it on the andirons. It is an ebony, ac- 

 cording to botanists, and can be used as Kalm 

 mentions ; but remember also what he says of it, 

 and gather none for the winter's wood-pile. 



If there were but one kind of tree in the world, 

 the forests would be as unattractive as crowded 

 streets. The plain would afford the rambler his 

 best loafing-place, if not his only one. But there 

 are many trees of many kinds, and each has an 

 individuality of its own, quite apparent to him who 

 strolls for pleasure and in a receptive frame of 

 mind. Perhaps this is vague, as it doubtless is 

 nonsense to those who see in trees only so much 

 lumber, so I will restate the case. An oak, a 

 weeping-willow, a holly, and a pine will very dif- 



