n COLOUR SCHEMES 



tree was to join hands with the next, though often a 

 distinct deviation was made to the general rule. For the 

 beautiful growth of the future wood was the thing that 

 mattered, rather than obedience to any inflexible law. 



Now, after twenty years, the saplings have become 

 trees, and the preponderance of one kind of tree at a 

 time has given a feeling of repose and dignity. Here 

 and there something exceptional occurs, but it causes 

 interest, not confusion. Five woodland walks pass 

 upward through the trees ; every one has its own 

 character, while the details change during its progress 

 — never abruptly, but in leisurely sequence ; as if in- 

 viting the quiet stroller to stop a moment to enjoy 

 some little woodland suavity, and then gently enticing 

 him to go further, with agreeable anticipation of what 

 might come next. And if I may judge by the pleasure 

 that these woodland ways give to some of my friends 

 who I know are in sympathy with what I am trying 

 to do, and by my own thankful delight in them, 1 may 

 take it that my little sylvan pictures have come fairly 

 right, so that I may ask my reader to go with me in 

 spirit through some of them. 



My house, a big cottage, stands facing a little to 

 the east of south, just below the wood. The windows 

 of the sitting-room, and its outer door, which stands 

 open in all fine summer weather, look up a straight 

 wide grassy way, the vista being ended by a fine old 

 Scotch Fir with a background of dark wood. This 

 old Fir and one other, and a number in and near the 

 southern hedge, are all that remain of the older wood 

 which was all of Scotch Fir. 



