Art Out-of-Doors 
in a spirit far from acquiescent the answer, 
Because I am fond of trees. 
It is time that this foolish sort of senti- 
mentality 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. No real 
love for Nature can develop among us until 
we distinctly understand the difference be- 
tween the fine and the inferior things which 
Nature grows. And we shall not greatly 
advance in gardening art until we are clearly 
convinced that general beauty is more im- 
portant than the beauty of any individual 
object, and are firmly determined to act — 
carefully and discreetly but boldly too — 
upon this conviction. 
Yet still I have not named the most un- 
fortunate effect 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 we take through public 
parks or private grounds shows us, not only 
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