24 THE CHRONICLES OF A GARDEN. 



forest trees, it would be easy to fill pages with tlie fascinat- 

 ing theme ; but I am sure those who love and aj^preciate 

 well the beauty and variety of interest connected with 

 even one tree, will also be those who will most thoroughly 

 enjoy the grandeur of woodland scenery, and none such, I 

 trust, will return to their own limited grounds without 

 additional admiration and liking for their own trees. 



Although the growth of lichens and mosses on trees 

 may be considered a blemish in the eyes of some persons, 

 there is no doubt these plants add to their beauty, especi- 

 ally in winter, from the colouring they impart ; and it is 

 curious to observe, that while some of those grow indiffer- 

 ently on tree or stone, others attach themselves almost 

 exclusively to certain species. 



" An oak grew near. . . . 



its fretted roots 



Emboss d the bank, and on their ruffled bark 



Grew plants which love the moisture and the shade — 



Short ferns, and longer leaves of wrinkled green." 



Southey, it is true, is here referring to wilder woodlands 

 than the villa-grounds in which I am desirous of seeing 

 trees cherished; and the plants alluded to are probably 

 the i^retty little oak fern [Polypodium dryopteris) found 

 among the damp mosses at the root of oak-trees, and the 

 broader-leaved and less exclusive hart's tongue [Scolo- 

 pendrium vulgare.) As regards the beauty derived from 

 lichens and mosses, I am glad to be able to strengthen 

 my assertion, by the following remarks of Gilpin, in his 

 delightful work on Forest Scenery. " The variety of 



