84 



HORSE 

 CHESTNUT 

 Showing a distinc- 

 tive scar. 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



However, in winter we are alone 

 with the trees and shrubs. One 

 comes closer to them, gets better 

 acquainted with them. I suppose 

 it is a mere fancy on my part. But 

 I know an ash, a walnut, and a 

 maple so close together that their 

 branches overlap a trifle. I have 

 known them for a long time. Each 

 is like a good friend. I think I 

 know every limb any of those trees 

 has lost in a dozen years. But, 

 somehow, in summer their individ- 

 uality seems impaired. I think of 

 them more as a composite group, 

 each concealing the good points of 

 the others. And I cannot get so 

 near them. A mere fancy, of course, 

 but I welcome always the autumn 

 wind which strips the concealing 

 foliage and restores the individual- 

 ity of my old-time friends. 



I have spoken mainly of decidu- 

 ous trees. But they do not involve 

 the whole story. It is true the BOX ELDER 

 evergreens do not show so great a showing spur and 

 difference in their winter state. But ' 



terminal bud. 



BUCKEYE 

 Easily distinguished 

 from the horse- 

 chestnut bud. 



fall of the leaf in autumn 

 and continues till the open- 

 ing of the buds in spring. 

 To all intents and purposes 

 the twigs and buds remain 

 quiescent throughout this 

 long season. In other 

 words, nearly half the year 

 is winter to the trees. Com- 

 pare this long season dur- 

 nig which the conditions of 

 study do not change with 

 the short flowering period 

 of the willows, or even the 

 part of the summer that re- 

 mains after the leaves are 

 full grown. 



There is, too, the distinct 

 advantage to one who is 

 fond of the woods and 

 fields of opening a great 

 opportunity for study and 

 enjoyment during a season 

 of the year so generally 

 considered closed. Yet I 

 would not urge the exclu- 

 sive study of trees in win- 

 ter. One may learn consid- 

 erably more than half the 

 story, hut he will not learn 

 it all. 



WALNUT 

 Illustrating 



WHITE ASH 



TULIP 



the diverse appearance of the twigs of some of our 

 most familiar trees in winter. 



CATALPA 



The twig is the best 

 key to identification. 



there is something else. 

 Only the untrained eye is 

 wearied by the monotony 

 of the winter landscape, or 

 is irritated by the absence 

 of color. The color is there ; 

 not in so great a variety, 

 not presenting such strik- 

 ing' brilliancy, but, rather, 

 soft and comforting. And 

 hovv much of it is due to 

 "the withering pines and 

 the hemlocks." 



In summer the ever- 

 greens do not put on their 

 new coats so quickly as the 

 other trees. In the outburst 

 of deciduous foliage in the 

 spring the evergreens seem 

 somewhat to succumb to 

 the youthful ardor of their 

 many - tinted rivals. But 

 later the tables are com- 

 pletely turned. The majes- 

 tic conifers, with so much 

 more ancient lineage, can 

 afford to bide their time 

 for Autumn, the season of 

 their glory, approaches. 



