STUDIES OF TREES IN WINTER 



year; and no one knows trees well who cannot 

 distinguish the different species as easily and 

 surely^ in winter as in spring or summer. 

 Almost every tree has some special and pecu- 

 liar beauty which is seen to the best advantage 

 in winter. The fine spray of the beech is 

 seen only at this season of the year, and there 

 are few more beautiful objects in nature than 

 the delicate branches of our New England 

 beech trees seen against the clear blue sky 

 of a brilliant winter day. The sturdiness of 

 the oak is best realized in winter, for at other 

 seasons its massive limbs are often hidden 

 under their covering of leaves. The birch is 

 far more graceful and attractive in winter than 

 at any other period ; and there is nothing more 

 stimulating: to the lover of nature than to 

 stand on a bright winter's day and look up 

 into the marvellous structure of one of the 

 great elm trees which are the pride of New 

 England. The bark of most trees appears 

 more beautiful in winter than at other sea- 

 sons of the year because the eye, undisturbed 

 by the contemplation of the foliage, can then 

 most easily take in all the details of its varied 

 texture and wonderful colors. 



For the student of trees searching for accu- 

 rate knowledge it is as important to study 



XVI 



