XXVI INTRODUCTION. 
others. At the same time every individual would be influenced and aided by the general 
taste, judgment, and culture of the community about him. 
“The growing interest in out-of-door life, and in means of recreation that can be 
enjoyed in the open air, is one of the most encouraging tendencies of the time. Garden- 
ing and the care of flowers and trees are becoming more and more attractive to 
thoughtful and cultivated people everywhere.. These are sane and wholesome occupa- 
tions, and they are coming to be depended upon for relief from weariness and ‘nervous 
prostration,’ as it is found that pleasant activity in the open air is often a more potent 
restorative than medicine. The primary benefit comes, of course, from our breathing 
purer air, and more of it, when out-of-doors; but every one needs a more inspiring 
reason for going out than the bare and depressing thought of the need of improvement 
to health. It is ‘much better to think about our flowers or shrubbery, or to be inter- 
ested in plans for the care of a garden or door-yard, than to think of ourselves in any 
more direct way. In all such activities immediate utility is associated with the more 
ideal aims. 
“The best garden or farm is partly a work of art. Its order and beauty add to 
the interest of life for its possessor, especially if he cultivates it with his own hands and 
brain. A day laborer with a garden, or a few square yards of ground about his door, 
has an artist’s opportunities in the application of his taste to the capabilities of the 
area which he plants and shapes. He may have the delight of creating something 
beautiful and interesting which did not exist before. It is a serene happiness to think 
‘out plans for doing the best that can be done with even the smallest piece of ground 
on which anything can be made to grow. He who has room for trees has it in his 
power to make enduring changes in the landscape, and the care of even a few trees will 
supply much of interest from the time they are planted till their protector can walk or 
rest at will under their shade. One becomes attached to them as to children and friends, 
and they respond in their way. The watch against their many foes often involves 
unpoetical activities; but struggle is the condition of all animate being, and life without 
it, if it were possible, would not be interesting. 
“The defense of trees against their insect enemies introduces us to one of the most 
interesting provinces of the out-of-door world, the life of birds and their services to man. 
In the order of animal existence on our planet they are the natural instrument for 
keeping insect life down to its normal level and proportion. But we have repressed the 
bird population in this country to such an extent that we have produced an enormous 
over-development of insect life, so that the dominion is given over to them, and they 
have become an all-pervading curse, like that of the frogs in Egypt when they covered 
the land, entered the houses, and climbed into the very bread-bowls. Learned men 
write books and governments make large appropriations to help farmers, orchard- 
growers, and vine-growers to defend their crops against injurious insects, but if we 
were civilized enough to protect our friends and ailies instead of cherishing our enemies, 
the birds would soon dispose of most of these pests. 
‘It is often observed that birds are more particular about their food than form- 
erly, and that many of the worst insects are not eaten by them. But that is because 
their supply of food is so abundant that they can afford to be dainty and to eat only 
