XII 



ROM the artistic point of view 

 trees have three characteristics 

 which may be separately studied 

 — form, texture, and color. 



The first element in the form of a tree is 

 its general outline, its contour, the silhouette 

 it makes when relieved against the sky or 

 against masses of trees of other colors. The 

 outline peculiar to a given species varies a 

 good deal, of course, in different individuals ; 

 but in all full-grown and well-grown indi - 

 viduals it vv^ill be so nearly the same that the 

 typical shape of the species may often be 

 expressed in a very simple diagram on paper. 

 An isosceles triangle with a broad base, for 

 instance, gives the typical outline of the 

 spruce; a similar figure, but with swelling 

 sides, gives that of a freely developed hem- 

 lock ; the white elm would fill a vase-like 

 figure supported by a straight line for the 



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