CHAPTER VIII. 
THE BEAUTY OF TREES. 
Their Varieties of Feature and Form and Diversity of Character.— 
The Attributes of Trees.—The Essential Condition of Beauty in 
Trees.—Beauty of Forest Retreats—The Forest Enjoyments and 
Joyous Inhabitants. — Individual and Collective Beautifying of 
Trees, How Realized. 
Amone all the millions of human beings who have 
existed since time began, no two have been alike. All 
their illimitable varieties of expression are produced by 
the varied combinations of only half a dozen features 
included in a circle of six to eight inches in diameter. 
While amid all these forms of expression many are 
known as being of exquisite beauty. So with the end- 
less diversity of character that may be exhibited among 
trees, with the multitude of features and form given by 
their trunks and myriads of branches, limbs, and twigs, 
their infinitude of leaves and blossoms, of all sizes, forms, 
and colors; their towering outlines delineated on the 
azure canopy of the skies, and the ever-varying play of 
light and shadow of their foliage. There are subtle ex- 
pressions in trees, as in the human face, that are difficult 
to analyze or account for. 
Sunny cheerfulness, gayety, gloom, sprightliness, rude- 
ness, sweetness, awkwardness, and eccentricities are all 
attributes of trees, as well as of human beings. Some 
trees look sulky or sad, as old oaks, or balsams, and re- 
pel sympathy. People never love such trees; they are 
only endured by way of variety. A healthy, vigorous 
sugar-maple looks warm, sunny, and deep-blossomed ; 
