TREES, STARS, AND BIRDS 

 CHAPTER ONE 



BECOMING ACQUAINTED WITH TREES 



What if another sit beneath the shade 



Of the broad elm I planted by the way, 



What if another heed the beacon light 



I set upon the rock that wrecked my keel, 



Have I not done my task and served my kind ? 



OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES 



TREES have a fascination for us that abides as long 

 as we live. The coming of the leaves on the bare 

 branches is one of the most pleasing signs of spring; 

 the deep green of the summer foliage is restful to the 

 eyes ; the red and gold of the autumn woods is one 

 of the most splendid sights of nature ; and even in 

 winter the play of shadows and colors in a woodland is 

 beautiful to behold. In the early history of our country 

 trees were so plentiful that they were destroyed to get 

 them out of the way. Now millions of them are planted 

 every year. We like them about us because they are 

 pleasing to our eyes and afford a source of interest and 

 healthful enjoyment to our minds. 



But trees are useful as well as beautiful. They shade 

 us from the summer's sun and help to break the force 

 of the winter winds. Their fruits and seeds are a most 

 important source of food for men and animals, and, 

 above all, they furnish us wood, without which civilized 

 life would not be possible. Much of the material for 

 our houses and vehicles is wood ; the paper of the book 

 you are reading is made from wood ; your pencil, chair, 

 and desk are mostly wood; and it is probable that in 



