THESE sketches are, I fear, very unscien- 

 tific and unsystematic. They record the 

 growth of my own interest and informa- 

 tion, as I have recently observed and enjoyed 

 the trees among which I had walked unsee- 

 ing far too many years. To pass on, as well 

 as I can, some of the benefit that has come 

 into my own life from this wakened interest 

 in the trees provided by the Creator for the 

 resting of tired brains and the healing of ruf- 

 fled spirits, as well as for utility, is the reason 

 for gathering together and somewhat extend- 

 ing the papers that have brought me, as they 

 have appeared in the pages of "The Outlook," 

 so many letters of fellowship and apprecia- 

 tion from others who have often seen more 

 clearly and deeply into the woods than I may 

 hope to. 



Driven out from my desk by weariness some- 

 times and as often, I confess, by a rasped tem- 



(v) 



