DECIDUOUS TREES 183 



How can we do this ? In two ways. First, by transplanting 

 all the large trees we can afford. Second, by planting enough 

 slow-growing native trees to dominate the land we own. The 

 fast growers and horticultural forms should be reduced to a mini- 

 mum. The former are only for temporary luxuriance; the latter 

 only for spice. This is the only true perspective. 



What a different programme this is from the one we have 

 hitherto been following! Until a few years ago, it was the regular 

 thing for nurseries to have only the English oak, elm, beech, and 

 linden; there was no demand for the American equivalents. Now 

 the whole attitude is changing. We see that we can never get Eng- 

 lish mellowness merely by planting English species. We have abun- 

 dant proof that European trees, as a rule, are not long-lived in 

 America, except on the Pacific coast. But, even if they did thrive 

 here, it would be slavish imitation to have them in preponderance. 

 We want an American landscape, not an English one. Formerly we 

 aimed at the letter and missed the spirit. Now we see that 

 mellowness resides not in English trees as such, but in the great 

 age and stature of tree growth, and that we can have mellow country 

 places only by preserving and planting our own long-lived trees. 



But my theme is how to reproduce all the most important 

 English effects with material that will really be hardy and long- 

 lived in America. In my judgment there are about eight main 

 effects. 



THE PRIVATE FORESTRY EFFECT 



Everywhere in England you see private forests planted for profit. 

 England first won her naval supremacy in ships built of English 

 oak trees which were practically planted for the purpose on private 

 estates. Public or state forestry hardly exists in England. Here 

 we commonly think that forestry concerns the government only. 



