CHAPTER IX 



TREES AND FLOWERS 



SMALL wonder need exist as to why almost everyone admires 

 a fine tree, for we learn that the Greeks of old saw a Dryad in 

 every one of them. Since the dawn of civilisation, men and 

 women have been intimately associated with trees, and, in the 

 morning of the world, long, long ago, they were closely connected 

 with them. Primeval man lived in trees. To him they meant 

 home, refuge, and strong tower. As times changed, and men 

 left their wooded fastnesses, they were still foresters, and, to- 

 day, we are in Letchworth Garden City planting thousands of 

 young trees, the fruit of which will be gathered by .future genera- 

 tions. This reafforestation of desolate areas of land should be 

 state-aided, and not left for private ownership, more especially 

 as our countryside was so made bare of trees by the memorable 

 blizzard of March 1916. 



When men lived in the woods, trees made the deepest im- 

 pression upon their powers of imagination. A tree to them was 

 more than so much timber, a dumb, motionless thing void of 

 life, for men of old realised it was a creature of sentient being, 

 all powerful in its healing properties, and capable, moreover, 

 of inflicting dread punishment upon the neglectful and scornful, 

 or those who did not offer up sacrifice to it. Men even refused 

 to step upon the shadow it cast, for they recognised its powers 

 of governing rain and sunshine, storm and tempest. Trees were 

 also, as they still remain, guardian angels of the wild creatures 

 of the forest. Women of old revered them, to men they brought 

 well-being and prosperity. Through their aid the crops were 

 made to grow, the herdg to increase. They became men's Gods. 

 Men worshipped them, offered silent prayer unto them, and to 

 trees men have even sacrificed men. 



When later in our Island story men built castles, fortified 



towns, and other strongholds, tree -worship went out of fashion. 



Even the sacred Oak, which was at one time the centre of our 



religion in England, and which the Druids were joyous to see 



120 



