FOREST TREES 



metrical. Nevertheless I have found 

 it described as a tree of " great refine- 

 ment of expression " at that age. As 

 soon as it begins to put on a richer 

 crown of foliage and to develop a stur- 

 dier stem and more elegant lines in the 

 disposition of its branches, it becomes 

 invested with its peculiar aspect of 

 magnificence, increasing in graceful- 

 ness and grandeur from year to year. 

 Its bark, at first smooth and gray, grad- 

 ually becomes chiseled with sharp small 

 cuts; then takes on a corrugated ap- 

 pearance, becomes brown, and finally 

 turns into deeply furrowed ridges in 

 the old tree. Now the foliage, too, 

 seems to clothe the massive boughs 

 more fitly, being denser and in size of 

 leaves more in accordance with the 

 increased dmiensions of the tree. 

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