The Beauty of Trees 



distinct from either. Even two species of 

 pine may be very unlike in texture, o^^•ing 

 to diversities in the length, the rigidity, and 

 the number of their needles. And with de- 

 ciduous trees the case is the same. A great 

 variety in texture is found even among spe- 

 cies closely allied with one another and, 

 when leafless, very similar in eftect. Leaves 

 may be large or small, numerous or com- 

 paratively few, clustered or scattered, held 

 erect or horizontally or in a drooping man- 

 ner ; they may have simple outlines, or be 

 conspicuously cut or toothed or lobed, may 

 be thick or thin, stiff or pliant in tissue, 

 may be smooth or rough or shining of sur- 

 face. A variation in any one characteris- 

 tic greatly alters the general aspect of the 

 foliage, and as there are so many character- 

 istics which may be combined and recom- 

 bined afresh, it is not strange that Nature's 

 weaving processes should result in innumer- 

 able kinds of texture. 



Upon these the expression of a tree de- 

 pends quite as much as upon varieties of 

 form or varieties of color, unless, indeed, 

 color be so peculiar as to be no longer 

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