148 TREES IN NATURE, MYTH & ART 



In Constable's picture ''The Cornfield," the 

 field itself is far from being the most conspicu- 

 ous part of the landscape. The trees, the lane 

 and the hedges in the foreground occupy much 

 greater space ; and they, and the boy and 

 animals in the lane, count for much more in 

 the subject-interest of the picture. Beyond 

 the cornfield, which is a mere strip near the 

 centre of the picture, are low-lying meadows, a 

 church-tower among trees, and distant country. 

 ''In the Lane" would have been a better title 

 than "The Cornfield," were it not that the 

 colour-note given by the corn is of the greatest 

 value in the picture ; which I may add, well 

 illustrates also what has already been said about 

 the surprise-views we get between the trees in 

 a well-wooded landscape. 



Mention of the cornfields suggests reference 

 to an animistic belief similar to those spoken of 

 in an earlier chapter. We have seen that it 

 was believed that, when the trees were de- 

 nuded of leaves in the winter, the tree-spirit 

 took refuge in the mistletoe or neighbouring 

 evergreen. As the corn is being reaped, hares, 

 rabbits and game-birds are regularly driven 

 towards the centre of the field, and the reapers 



