i6o TREES IN NATURE, MYTH & ART 



wonderful vital architecture, the dividing out 

 into always more and more slender branches, 

 twigs and shoots. And it is all vital. The 

 increase is no merely mechanical addition from 

 the outside, but is the addition, by the tree's 

 own living power, of living cells innumerable, 

 formed, how we do not know — life is ever a 

 mystery — from the inorganic nourishment 

 drawn from earth and air. And always the 

 balance is preserved, the right proportion of 

 strength and weight in all the parts to ensure 

 stability. No, not always ; only as a rule. 

 Often a branch becomes too heavily weighted 

 for its strength, and breaks. Two great limbs 

 of a large horse-chestnut-tree in my garden 

 have had to be bound together with clamps 

 and tie-rod, without which the tree would have 

 fallen asunder. Fruit-trees often bear too 

 heavily for the strength of some of their 

 branches. The dryads are no more infallible 

 builders than their human brethren of the 

 craft. Still, they are skilful builders ; stability 

 Is maintained for the most part. 



Here, while we are considering the stability 

 of the trees, can be said most appropriately 

 something about the effect of wind upon them. 



