216 
RURAL HOURS. 
generally do not yet see things in this light. But time is a very 
essential element, absolutely indispensable, indeed, in true civiliza- 
tion ; and in the course of years we shall, it is to be hoped, learn 
farther lessons of this kind. Closer observation will reveal to us 
the beauty and excellence of simplicity, a quality as yet too little 
valued or understood in this country. And when we have made 
this farther progress, then we shall take better care of our trees. 
We shall not be satisfied with setting out a dozen naked saplings 
before our door, because our neighbor on the left did so last year, 
nor cut down a whole wood, within a stone's throw of our dwell- 
ing, to pay for a Brussels carpet from the same piece as our 
neighbor's on the right ; no, we shall not care a stiver for mere 
show and parade, in any shape whatever, but we shall look to 
the general proprieties and fitness of things, whether our neigh- 
bors to the right or the left do so or not. 
How easy it would be to improve most of the farms in the 
country by a little attention to the woods and trees, improving 
their appearance, and adding to their market value at the same 
time ! Thinning woods and not blasting them ; clearing only such 
ground as is marked for immediate tillage ; preserving the wood 
on the hill-tops and rough side-hills ; encouraging a coppice on 
this or that knoll ; permitting bushes and young trees to groAV at 
will along the brooks and water-courses ; sowing, if need be, a 
grove on the bank of the pool, such as are found on many of our 
farms ; sparing an elm or two about the spring, with a willow 
also to overhang the well ; planting one or two chestnuts, or oaks, 
or beeches, near the gates or bars; leaving a few others scat- 
tered about every field to shade the cattle in summer, as is fre- 
quently done, and setting out others in groups, or singly, to shade 
