IN THE HEART OF THE PINES 



WHY is it that one who goes to the woods 

 in summer almost invariably seeks out the 

 pines, if there be any in the vicinity, and 

 enjoys his stroll or his siesta under their 

 shade, rather than beneath the canopy of 

 the deciduous trees? There are several ex- 

 cellent reasons for this preference, I think. 

 The first is, that the pine woods are un- 

 doubtedly cooler in summer than other 

 woods. Their shade is more profound and 

 unbroken. The air has a freer circulation 

 through their lofty and open aisles. Then, 

 too, the pine is an upland tree, growing by 

 preference on high or rising ground where 

 there is naturally more air stirring. Inci- 

 dental to the greater coolness and better 

 circulation of the pine woods is their com- 

 parative freedom from insect pests. This is 

 no slight advantage from the rambler's 

 standpoint. Again, there is that delicious 

 aromatic fragrance of the pines, so espe- 

 cially noticeable in hot weather, when the 



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