16 TREES 



scattered over the boards when the tree is sawed. This is 

 bird's-eye grain, beautiful in pattern and in sheen and 

 coloring when polished. It is cut thin for veneer work. 

 Extreme irregularity of grain adds to the value of woods, if 

 they are capable of a high polish. The fine texture and 

 coloring, combined with the beautiful patterns they dis- 

 play, give woods a place in the decorative arts that can be 

 taken by no other material. 



The Fall of the Leaves 



It is November, and the glory of the woods is departed. 

 Dull browns and purples show where oaks still hold their 

 leaves. Beech trees in sheltered places are still dressed in 

 pale yellow. The elfin flowers of the witch hazel shine like 

 threads of gold against the dull leaves that still cling. The 

 trees lapse into their winter sleep. 



Last week a strange thing happened. The wind tore 

 the red robes from our swamp maples and sassafras and 

 scattered them in tatters over the lawn. But the horse- 

 chestnut, decked out in yellow and green, lost scarcely a 

 leaf. Three days later, in the hush of early morning, when 

 there was not a whiff of a breeze perceptible, the signal, 

 "Let go!" came, and with one accord the leaves of the 

 horse-chestnut fell. In an hour the tree stood knee deep in 

 a stack of yellow leaves; the few that still clung had con- 

 siderable traces of green in them. Gradually these are 

 dropping, and the shining buds remain as a pledge that the 

 summer story just ended will be told again next year. 



Perhaps such a sight is more impressive if one realizes the 

 vast importance of the work the leaves of a summer ac- 

 complish for the tree before their surrender. 



The shedding of leaves is a habit broad-leaved trees have 



