Art Out-of-Doors 



in a spirit far from acquiescent the answer, 

 Because I ain fond of trees. 



It is time that tliis foohsh sort of senti- 

 mentahty should be recognized for what it 

 is — an actual drawback to the growth of a 

 genuine, intelligent appreciation of trees and 

 of landscape-beauty in general. Xo real 

 love for Nature can develop among us until 

 we distinctly understand the difference be- 

 tvreen the nne and the inferior things -'vhich 

 Nature grovrs. And we shall not greatly 

 advance in gardening art until we are cleaidy 

 convinced that general beauty is more im- 

 portant than the beauty of any individual 

 object, and are hrmly determined to act — 

 carefully and discreetly but boldly too — 

 upon this conviction. 



Yet still I have not named the most un- 

 fortunate enect of our weak dislike to cutting 

 trees. The spirit which refuses the axe when 

 it is plainly demanded in the interests of 

 general beauty, is just as obstinate when it is 

 demanded in the interests of the trees them- 

 selves. Every walk vre take through public 

 parks or private grounds shows us. not only 

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