Central Park 



failed to be more interested in this aspect of the matter 

 — the heart and marrow of the thing — than in the super- 

 ficial dress ; there was none who did not prefer the early 

 spring walk in the leafless woods to the foliage- vistas of 

 June. Trees and birds are alike in this respect, that 

 the best time to begin their study is in January ; it gives 

 aim for winter -rambles where one can note the sinewy 

 strength and the majestic pose of these noblest creatures 

 of the soil, many of which were living their sturdy life 

 before our day, and will abide in undiminished strength 

 long after we have passed away. 



The foregoing are but a few of the differences in tree- 

 species ; to the tip of the tiniest twig, through all their 

 fibre, and to the core of the heart-wood, individuality is 

 stamped upon them. Penetrate below the surface of the 

 trunk, and note the coloring of the tree's lifeless centre — 

 for the interior of every sound tree is as dead as a post, 

 the life is all in the outer layers next the bark, and in 

 the juicy twig and leaf; yet in rather comical contra- 

 diction the defunct interior is called "heart-wood " — 

 cut to the centre, and find it crimson as blood in the 

 red cedar, black in ebony, white in basswood, yellow 

 in the yellow-wood, and in many cases with fanciful in- 

 grained designs, as in bird's-eye and curled maple. 



In the requirements of human life what diverse quali- 

 ties in timber are demanded, and all of them are met by 

 the varying grain and texture of our trees — the horse- 

 chestnut for artificial limbs, holly for engraving-blocks, 

 maple and sweet gum for fine cabinet-work, ash for fur- 

 niture and oars, elm for wheel-hubs, black walnut for 

 gun-stocks, hickory for agricultural implements, white 

 35 



