PREFACE 



THE trees described in this volume are those indigenous 

 to the region extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the 

 Rocky Mountains and from Canada to the northern boun- 

 daries of the southern states ; together with a few well- 

 known and naturalized foreign trees such as the Horse- 

 chestnut, Lombardy Poplar, Ailanthus and Sycamore Maple. 



It is hoped that this book will commend itself : 



To amateur botanists who desire a more extended and ac- 

 curate description of trees than is given by the botanical 

 text-books in ordinary use. 



To such of the general public as habitually live near fields 

 and woods ; or whose love of rural life has led them to 

 summer homes in hill country or along the sea-shore ; or 

 whose daily walks lead them through our city parks and open 

 commons. 



To all those who feel that their enjoyment of out-door life 

 would be distinctly increased were they able easily to deter- 

 mine the names of trees. 



The author is glad to acknowledge her great indebtedness 

 to the following books of reference ; Sargent's " The Silva of 

 North America," Michaux's " North American Sylva," Lou- 

 don's " Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum," Emerson's 

 " Report on the Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts," Sach's 

 " Physiology of Plants," Sach's "Text-Book of Botany," Le 

 Maout and Decaisne's "General System of Botany," Britton 

 and Brown's " Illustrated Flora of the United States and 

 Canada," Dawson's " Geological History of Plants," Hough's 

 " American Woods," Gray's " Manual of Botany," sixth edi- 

 vii 



