284 Poachers and Poaching. 



made from it, as are the primitive agricultural 

 implements used in the valley ; of like wood 

 is his own axe handle and spade shaft. In 

 the country infinite almost are the uses of the 

 ash. 



In the middle of the wood, and coming down 

 to the stream sides, are a retinue of fringed elms, 

 both Campestris and Montana. Some of these 

 have attained to an immense size, and are at one 

 with the scenery. But in the open spots of the 

 wood in the glades where life most prevails 

 are the beautiful birches, with their striped, 

 silvery bark. Well does this tree merit its 

 appellation of " lady of the woods." There is 

 none so frail, so graceful, nor so generally 

 beautiful. Almost every part of the birch is 

 used and for a great variety of purposes. In 

 spring the delicate green of the larch hangs in 

 trailing tassels, and contrasts well with the dark 

 green foliage of the indigenous pine. The old 

 forester has an " Unter den Linden " equal, at 

 least in beauty, to any in Europe, and in summer 

 the trees are a veritable haunt of summer wings. 

 The field maple and the sycamore are here, and 

 interspersed in the open spaces a few white 

 stemmed walnuts. These in autumn yield a 

 rich harvest to the forester. The horse-chestnut 

 is common, and then come a host of trees of 

 minor growth. All the wild fruit trees are here, 



