22 THE CHRONICLES OF A GARDEN. 



longer we know and study our favourite, the more do we 

 value it, and the playfellow of childhood becomes the friend 

 of riper years. Few things are more perplexing to the 

 lover of trees than the decision sometimes necessary as to 

 which must be cut down, either in a clump where they are 

 hindering each other's growth, or when a view may be 

 opened out by the removal, or light and air admitted to 

 the dwelling. No one who merely looks upon woods and 

 forests as "timber" to be marked for felling, can under- 

 stand the hesitation, the alternate changes of plan, the 

 difference between the summer thought and the winter 

 thought of the owner of a few cherished trees ; and it is 

 wise certainly thus to ponder, and look at the question on 

 all sides ; for cutting down a tree is an irretrievable step. 

 It has been said that every man's trees should be cut 

 down by his neighbour ; I know I should be sorry to see- 

 the best Samaritan that ever lived with axe in hand among 

 our trees. But when a tree is doomed to fall, it is wise to 

 make its removal now the source of pleasure, instead of 

 indulging vain regrets ; and it must be admitted that very 

 frequently its absence does give great additional enjoy- 

 ment, for, besides opening out a view of distant mountain 

 or extended champaign, there is a peculiar feeling of 

 delight in the expanse of sky now seen. Then the plea- 

 sure derivable from one tree is by no means ended when it 

 is cut down ; to have it cut up and used as firewood is 

 another interest connected with it, while the gnarled root 

 may be put into some shady corner, primroses and ferns 

 planted in its hollow crevices and around it, so that it 



