158 TREES IN NATURE, MYTH & ART 



fact, it necessitates our considering whether or 

 not utility should not be struck out of our brief 

 list of tree-qualities. 



That which has life has the right to be con- 

 sidered as an end in itself, for itself and for its 

 species. Its usefulness to another creature is a 

 secondary matter. We should go too far if we 

 called it accidental ; for no creature liveth unto 

 itself Man, as we have seen, has made many 

 changes in the life of plants in order to develop 

 the special qualities in which they are useful 

 to him. Still, the usefulness is secondary. 

 The tree exists for itself and its progeny. So 

 we will give it the due of not considering its 

 secondary uses in discussing its architecture. 

 This leaves us stability and beauty. And 

 these, we must not forget, the tree having life, 

 are vital. First let us consider the tree's 

 stability. 



Has the reader ever watched the planting of 

 a young tree, and seen how, when a hole has 

 been dug for it, and the soil levelled, and the 

 tree put down, the roots are carefully drawn 

 out in the direction in which they have started 

 out to leave the stem.-^ These roots, as the 

 tree grows, will grow also, and be the means 



