The Beauty of Trees 



of three blended elements, and it is the 

 whole, as such, with which we should strive 

 to familiarize ourselves. We must learn, not 

 which tints or shapes in the abstract harmo- 

 nize with others, but which actual trees are 

 harmonious in association. We must learn 

 how each one looks in all the stages of its 

 growth, at various seasons of the year, and 

 under differing conditions of light and shade, 

 of nearness and remoteness. If a certain 

 tree seems out of place, we must be able to 

 say, not merely why we think so, but what 

 other tree might better have been chosen. 

 And when a spot is to be planted we must 

 be able to picture to ourselves how^ it should 

 be filled, not in vague harmonies of abstract 

 hues and shapes, but in definite mental por- 

 traits of available trees. 



Too often a much lower degree of knowl- 

 edge than this is thought all-sufficient. Too 

 often it is supposed that, when one can rec- 

 ognize the trees he most commonly meets 

 and call them by name, he really knows 

 them. But he does not unless he can see 

 them, so to speak, when he does not see 

 them — unless he can remember and ap- 

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