Biltmore , North Carolina 
fine deciduous tree-growth was disclosed in 
the opening up of the lands ; but it will be 
readily understood that upon the many 
small holdings which were taken in, the 
stress of mountain farming had not spared 
the natural beauties. The forests here, as 
elsewhere in our country, have been wasted. 
As one passes through the Black Mountains 
and down into the plateau one sees the 
flanks of the hills cruelly scarred by the 
depredations of the ruthless lumberman. 
The rescue of the forests was among the 
purposes which brought Biltmore into being, 
and Biltmore Forest, begun and encouraged 
by the efforts of Mr. Gifford Pinchot and 
continued under Doctor Schenck of Darm¬ 
stadt, the present forester, was intended to 
teach what systematic forestry means and 
what it can effect. 
In that part of Biltmore immediately about 
the house, something like eight thousand 
acres, or eleven square miles of forest land, 
have been held subordinate or accessory to the 
requirements of the landscape architect, and 
with good results. Mr. Olmsted’s miles of 
perfect macadam roads, winding among the 
hills, seeking out points of natural beauty, 
and bordered with studied groupings of trees 
and shrubs which his working force at Bilt¬ 
more is transplanting from the splendid 
nurseries year by year, give only occasional 
glimpses of a not unlovely young forest. 
There are but few fine old trees. In fact, 
the soil has been found not very favorable to 
the growth of trees, though the climate 
fosters a great variety of plant life. 
Of the main concept of Biltmore’s beauty, 
upon which the owner and the artist have 
joined their resources, some words of Richard 
le Gallienne’s might be quoted : 
“ The Earls of Pembroke have well un¬ 
derstood that the art of lordliness in one’s 
dwelling-place or dwelling-palace, is mainly an 
affair of trees. It matters little whether your 
house be large or small, beautiful or ugly, so 
long as you surround it with lofty vestibules 
of green leaves. The longest avenue of 
obsequious servants is nothing like so im- 
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