INTRODUCTION 



Far hack in distant ages we learn of tree-worship, of the mysterious in- 

 fluence surrounding the grove. "Trees," says Pliny, "were the first temples,'' 

 and although we have lost some of the poetic fancy connected with trees 

 we have learned much of their life histories. The mystery, however, is still 

 there, and to probe into the secrets affords an abundance of wonder and 

 delight, 



OUR WOODLANDS OF TO-DAY 



To-day, when the woodman uses his axe so largely and so often, our 

 great forests and woods are denuded of the monarchs among which the deer, 

 the wild boar, the bear, the wolf, and other animals once roamed, and we 

 see in many instances the wood of our youth converted into the homeliness 

 of the spinney or the copse. And what a remarkable change takes place in 

 the living garment when light and air are let into the woodland. Presto ! 

 was ever anything more magical or remarkable ? Have you never witnessed 

 such a transformation ? If not, then your experience has been very dissimilar 

 to our own. Fresh plants have sprung up with amazing rapidity and car- 

 peted the ground with their virgin growth ; a new young wood has been 

 silently ushered into the world, and between the few remaining trees of an 

 older growth that stood sentinel-like, the earth was literally festooned with 

 a profusion of herbage. 



The whole panorama requires to be actually seen to be appreciated, and 

 as the various wild tenants inhabit the copse, and plants appear, disappear, 

 and re-appear, there is a whole succession of interesting phenomena displayed 

 to view which cannot fail to fill one full of gratitude and wonder. 



A GOOD STORY BY DEAN HOLE 



"'Tis a beautiful tree," our neighbours say, and that is mostly the only 



comment they have to make. That is the Alpha and Omega of it all! 



This reminds us of a story told by the late Dean Hole in his charming 



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