AN AUNT JANE STORY 



SOME COMMON TREES 



''Here are some flower and tree cata- 

 logues just arrived," said Howard, as 

 he entered the Hbrary. "I know looking 

 over them will make you fairly wild, 

 Aunt Jane, to begin planting something, 

 but as the snow is still flying we shall 

 keep you a prisoner here until you tell 

 us something regarding the common 

 trees about us." 



"That is just the idea," cried John. 



/"Only yesterday I was wishing that we 



had more evergreens in our yard, for 



I like to get acquainted with trees that 



stay green all the year." 



"Why don't you plant some trees your- 

 self?" queried Alice. "A shrewd old 

 Scotchman says: Tlant a tree. Jack, 

 and it will ay be growing while you 

 sleep. Jack.' " 



"Be seated at the table," said Aunt 

 Jane, "and we will take down Miss Rog- 

 ers' tree book so we can look at the pic- 

 tures as we talk. We will begin with the 

 coniferous family, such as pines, firs, 

 spruces, larches, cedars, all of which 

 are desirable on account of their cheer- 

 fulness in winter." 



"I think 'coniferous' means cone-bear- 

 ing," Edith explained, in answer to a 

 whispered question by Madge. 



"Only one of them," continued Aunt 

 Jane, "the Scotch larch, loses its foliage 

 The pines have the distinction of ancient 

 pedigree ; as they were on the earth long 

 prior to many other trees, their line of 

 long descent begins with some of the 

 earliest land plants." 



"Isn't it a pity," interrupted Edith, 

 "that so many handsome pine forests in 

 some of the northern states have been 

 destroyed ?" 



"Indeed it is to be regretted that there 

 has been such ruthless destruction in 

 the past. The white pine is still abun- 

 dant, and has been a tree of the greatest 

 utility. It is more than a timber tree, 

 for, when properly grown, it is well 



adapted to ornamental purposes. In 

 summer it has two years' foliage, in win- 

 ter only that of the preceding summer." 



"How odd !" cried Madge. "I like its 

 pretty cones, and its leaves are a little 

 fragrant." 



"I do not think," said John, "that our 

 white pine is a success as an ornamental 

 tree, for the sleet storm once broke off 

 all the limbs on the north side." 



"But," cried Alice, "the tree is still 

 a thing of beauty, for we planted a wild 

 rose that covers the bare side ; it climbs 

 Up twenty feet or more." 



"Ah, that's making the most of a bad 

 bargain," said John, "just what you girls 

 did to the hemlock fir — planted a cheer- 

 ful vine against it because it looked too 

 somber as it grew old." 



"Auntie, where is the native home of 

 the cedars?" Alice inquired. 



"The true cedars belong to Asia. The 

 American cedars are not especially de- 

 sirable on the lawn because the foliage 

 turns to a dull brown ; still it is well to 

 have a few for the sake of the birds 

 who find in them shelter and warmth." 



"But we haven't anything half so 

 beautiful as our fifty sugar trees," said 

 Alice. "The maples have such soft, 

 green foliage, such pretty greenish-yel- 

 low flowers and winged seeds. Then in 

 autumn the exquisite coloring of the foli- 

 age is not surpassed by any other tree. 

 Even after the leaves are fallen on the 

 grass they glow like colors on a paint- 

 er's palette." 



"All true," said John, "but it takes so 

 long for a maple to mature. I'm glad 

 our grandfather planted ours." 



"There may be some objection to the 

 uniformity of outline of the maple," said 

 Aunt Jane, "but it unusually free from 

 insects and diseases." 



"Then think," said Alice, "of the 

 beauty of its lights and shadows." 



"But I think most," cried John, "of 



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