FOREST TREES 



an eminent degree the grandeur and 

 strength which he describes and for 

 which we commonly admire the tree. 



Of all the oaks^ the white oak is 

 the most important. This tree will 

 impress us differently as we see it 

 in the open field or in the dense forest. 

 Where it stands by itself in the full 

 enjoyment of light, it has a round- 

 topped, dome- shaped crown, and is 

 massive and well poised in all its parts. 

 Quite as often, however, we shall see 

 it gathered into little groups of three or 

 four on the greensward of some gently 

 sloping hill, where it has a graceful 

 way of keeping company. The groups 

 are full of expression, the effect is di- 

 versified from tree to tree, yet harmoni- 

 ous in the whole. In the denser forest 

 the white oak often reaches noble pro- 

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