234 TREES IN NATURE, MYTH & ART 



woodland, or of well-wooded country, is of a 

 kind that we seldom if ever get from Turner. 

 And it is because the qualities that Ruskin 

 finds wanting in his work are of little value for 

 the expression of the particular pleasure that 

 the country-side gave him, that they are not to 

 be found in his work. It is delightful to 

 breathe pure air. It is delightful to be out on 

 a fresh, showery day, when sunshine and 

 shower alternate. It is pleasant to feel the 

 rain in one's face. It is difficult not to think 

 that the trees share in our delight. Uncon- 

 sciously they do, at least they benefit. That 

 which gives health and healthy pleasure to us 

 gives health to them. It is exhilarating, on 

 such a day, to look over leagues of country, 

 studded with trees, and feel that there are 

 inexhaustible stores of light and air. This is 

 what Constable felt and what he makes us 

 feel. 



Doubtless there is ''feeling derived from 

 higher sources " than this. But this feeling at 

 least comes to us direct from nature. And it 

 is not dependent on careful attention to the 

 ramification of branches, and ability to recog- 

 nise a particular kind of tree when we see it. 



