TREES IN NATURE 73 



An avenue of beeches is very impressive, the 

 big, wide-reaching boughs, bending away from 

 the main stems, and mingling at their extremi- 

 ties, give a great sense of power. To enter such 

 an avenue — I h?ve one in mind, through which 

 I often pass — is to have the same feeling with 

 which one enters a vaulted cathedral : the un- 

 familiar size of familiar objects producing an 

 effect of vast spaciousness greater than that 

 of the open air. 



It is sufficient, perhaps, just to mention the 

 hornbeam, which is often mistaken for the 

 beech, though closer acquaintance with bark, 

 leaves and flowers discloses considerable dif- 

 ferences. 



The sycamore or great maple is an im- 

 ported tree that has not obtained a high 

 reputation. Evelyn dismisses it in a few 

 lines, mostly depreciatory, and including an 

 unfavourable comparison with a foreign variety. 

 *'The sycamore," he says, *'is much more in 

 reputation for its shade than it deserves ; for 

 the leaves which fall early (like those of the 

 ash) turn to mucilage, and putrify with the 

 first moisture of the season ; so as they con- 

 taminate and mar our walks, and are therefore 



