270 CHAPTER XXXVI. 



The British government has done well to stop the 

 cutting down of trees in Cyprus ; the Gladstones of 

 the island must seek some other recreation. This, 

 like all other mischief, is quickly done and slowly 

 remedied. The process of devastating a country was 

 called in Greek " temnein gen," or " koptein ten 

 khoran," both of which expressions have reference to 

 cutting down trees. 



Our own country abounds in trees ; but we must 

 not take too much credit for the fact. We plant them 

 as a shelter for pheasants, and we allow them to 

 remain because we do not need them for firewood. 

 England will be well-wooded so long as coal is cheap. 



Dresden, of all the towns I am acquainted with, 

 sets the greatest store by trees ; though the felling 

 once a year would need to be counterbalanced by a 

 good deal of planting. At Whitsuntide the whole 

 town is a bo,wer. Saplings and branches are piled up 

 and sold in the markets and open places ; and as we 

 buy Holly and Mistletoe at Christmas, so the Dres- 

 dener purchases a young Silver Birch or Fir tree, 

 which he puts up in some conspicuous spot, or close 

 by the door-post of the lady he admires. The tram- 

 cars come along under the shelter of four trees 

 fastened to the corners ; and the Elbe steamers, which 

 run to the Saxon Switzerland, look like well-wooded 

 islands. 



Trees may not make a Paradise, but we can 

 hardly conceive a Paradise without trees. Milton, it 

 has been observed, fills the Garden of Eden with 

 flowers, but Genesis mentions only trees. 



