On the Perversity of Certain Trees 



premature decay about it. In a clump 

 they may condescend to grow, or on a hill, 

 but if you don't want a clump, or a hill on 

 the lawn, what then ? 



Any one who has ever set his affections Misconduct 

 on a Peach orchard knows something of trees. . 

 the shameless coquetry of its behavior ; 

 and in the course of these chapters I 

 shall be compelled to record instances of 

 misconduct even in the most innocent and 

 carefully brought up trees as well as in 

 the wild and unsophisticated ones. Even 

 the common White Birch, which will live 

 anywhere and everywhere, and thrive on 

 a sandbank, goes and gets itself eaten up 

 with rosebugs the minute we try to uti- 

 lize it on a lawn. Lombardy Poplars, too, 

 in spite of much specious promising, be- 

 have shamefully; and I have known a 

 Catalpa to grow undaunted in an inclo- 

 sure for twenty years and then succumb in 

 a cowardly way to one cold winter. The 

 fact is, though I am loath to say it, as a 

 class you cannot absolutely depend upon 

 trees, and when you say that why, you 

 say everything ! 



I have also something to add concern- 

 57 



