162 FOREST TREES. 
tree of any kind, to vary the cheerless monotony of 
the landscape, or a screen to check the bleak winds 
that come sweeping for many miles over drifting 
snows. There is, however, evidently, a growing dis- 
position in the community to plant trees. Good 
example is not without its influence, and there is 
reason to hope that the improvement, although 
gradual, will be progressive and permanent. 
One fact in relation to Coniferous trees I have never 
seen noticed in any publication, viz.: that they will 
not endure the smoke and soot from bituminous 
coal. When they are exposed to its influence, the 
foliage is first blackened, the leaves gradually die and 
drop off. The trees of course become unsightly 
objects, and eventually perish. It is consequently 
useless to plant them in compactly built towns or 
villages where that kind of coal is largely employed 
as fuel. 
