New-York tribune., 1875-10-12

wac appointed by Governor Edward Everett CHER OF te
commission for the geological and botanical survey OF
the STATE. His Report, which w8s founded on personal
explorations The forests Of Massachusetts Tor several
successive Summers from the western hills Of Berkshire
% Marthas vineyard and from the banks OF The Merr
the shores of BuEzard's Bay was hrst phosh'u
I'm the wear s46 twGs with siueuarly cordial
interest only by the students OF natural history "u
by intelligent readers of every pursuit, for the clearcSs
aud accuracy It's descriptions and IFS graeen' ana
charming sly le foTmig contribution oi rare Naiue 10
the literature we'll as the science OF the country ence
that time il has sustained it's position as standard au
thoity in the department Of botany 10 Wheh II Is ne
voted and its rcappearance in the present edto, WIN,
ont essential change viii be sincerely welcomed ny the
numerous friends OF the author and the admirers oi t0
work. In his Introductory chapters, Mt Emerson pre-
sonts folcblc statement Of the utility OF forests III We"
Of the general Indifference their preservation Among
other considerations OF directly practical chrc
fer which he urges he dwe'ls upon the importance o
forests rs adding TO the beauty OF country Ar'soh
destitute is without the most expressive feature
of natural lovclncss. The green hills OF Berksmre'
deprived Of the old forest on their sides wou'd DC
converted into broad reaches ~ upland, with little inter
est and no carm TIE southern aspect of boston, WIN
the hills OF BruoEmc and RoXbniy, capped win "kOtE
and chestnut and clothed with oaks and pine gives the
impression of rich and happy country while the pare
hhs ON the north only present images OF desoaion NO
element OF beauty. Mr. Emerson remarks, Is so completely
tnanascabie AZ trees In this respect the resources Oh
Massachusetts, scarcely supssscdh any re"n"i he
;emperate zone The State has an the best o the decan-
Gus trees the oaks elms beeches, aSlcs mcAonee Wa"
nuts cherries naples the chestnut, linden ana Du''oh
wood OF the mdde portions together with the finest OF
the oycseroens tho pnc fr spruces, cedas' and hem
lock and the delicate birchcs o. more northern climate
Each of these trees has its own marked CHARACTER
its own cycla Of change, its own time of flower ana
fruit and foliage, and hence the endless variety OF the
forest scenery. The gorgeous show o the Autumn Woous
is one o the striking features OF that season III ths
country Zach tree has its eolors with an endless
variety OF uts and shades Early Autumn becomes gay
with the vivid crimson of the tupelo ana tile snmach
little later out the rich orange and yellow "l the
sucarmapc with the gold and scarlet of the redfowe-
ing maple The soft olive tints Of The ash the warm
browns of the hickory the purple of the conus florida,
the bu, and ycBows the birche give place NJ last 10
the fun scaets yeows and browns OF the oaks many oi
whose leaves remain through the SHOWS oi Nnter MI
Emerson comments the small number OF t'oer neoe-
sry 60 produce picturesque effect Ten or twelve trees
hsrIy ARRANGED the sides Of hill are often sufficient
to give an air OF richness harnonlne with highly cu'-
tiydtsd country. siAgle eliza or beech by farmers
house gives il air of protection aud retirement The
tree which affords cool shade 10 The occupants oi
house is its best ornament The traveller on hot DAY
welcomes every tree the roadside. Even Thin fringe
of gray birccs looks pleasant and he thankfully reDe-
bers the good taste wch has planted tree with mead
broad enough to give him shade and rCst In the opinion
of he author. nearly every fam in Massachusetts,
more land Is under cultivation than can he prot3hy
great advantage be turned into forest The portions Of
every farm which do not readily bear good crops Of
corn and grass. might with little expense, be sOWn
with the seeds OF the most valuable forest trees
Among the ornamental trees of Massachusetts, tEOeHh
is one Of e mos conspicu.us features of the Landscape
Every traveller IN that state has noticed with ad;nraiion
the noble tress in Northampton ANA Springfield, and
along the valley of the Connecticut. No one, who hds
seen can ever forge; the tall patarhal tree that sood
alone on the in P.ttsncd. Many specimens OF
the same form may he in Berkshire, ana in other
parts Of t.c state. where the tall primcval forest has
been cut away ana the elm alone has been left standing
With lis wonderful variety OF Ioauy it is not sIprls
in that the American elm should be iayorte with TIC
E.w-l England people. Even when s foliage Is gcheh
retains great tart of s natural atrdctiycncss. The
stately trunk ana the airy sweep of the branches still
I5main aud few objects Of The kind are more beautiful
tla the featheIed spray its tOym0st boughs. Win
III. earliest Spring, these ate fringed with numerous
buuehCs Of red blossoms, that soon to give ae" 20
the soft delicious green of the young leaves Inc elm Is
more frequently transplanted than any other forest tree
and from yieor and number OF its roots is more suo
o live II often spared when tic rest OF the forest IL
cut away 80 that il is standing iu pastures %S
shade 20 cattle or ef 10 protect and give IN air - CONE
fort To iaIrl-houses. During the interval which has
psod issue Of the first edition Of this work,
tNte for the natural sciences mas greatly increased
among cultivated American readers. Their study IS par
slcd 10th with intelligence aud enthusiasm by large
class OF our best people. The starse gcncraiauons,
which have been announced by scientific men,
aa the fruit of modern research have inspired a
deeper interest the examination Of details Mr. Emer-
sons beautiful volumes accordingly, republishe1 at
an oFporuDc moment, and viii and larger and more
apaeciatve audience than fossibe at the original
date OF the work They have. doubtless, furnished AN
important AID m cultyating, the taste Of generation
then young hut they lost Of their freshness
OF interest with the lapse of time. They read like the
con,posons Of to-day rather than the productions Of
past years preserving fund of vitality in their
truthfuness 90 Nature and their sincerity OF eA-
pression Nothing can illustrate more forcibly
the duration OF good and honest work among tho
treasures Of literature They have stood thus long ON
their own merits, which now assure them the
promise OF a still longer date. Changes 40 doubt viii
connne TO take place ia botanical classification aud mo-
ucnclature hut their permanent value Is guaranteed by
their fidelity To Nature, the eao CXactness of their
descriptions which verbal nOyatios can affect 1t
ought 10 added that the work is brought ont with rare
elegance and OF lis numerous illustrations
all are admirable and many exquisite.
rUAcEERAYANA: MOTIFS AND ANECDOTES. Illus
lraed 0y sketches b. WILLIAM AhkhKwE ihAhtRN'
l2Ino. ~. sS7 scrlbner.
Soon after the death Of Mr.. Thackeray, the
unione and curous collection of books in his library
exposed 10 inspection OF the public, and II was found
that many OF the volumes were adorned with original
peIandnksketches, suggested by remarkable scenes or
Whimsical characters the text The editor of the
present volume zealousy engaged IN collecting these
Illustrations together with others in the possession oi
pivate hands fac,nics Of which taken, and are
here presented IN permanent form. The lcterpress Is
merely sufficient form basis for The Sketches aud
shows considerable skll In the art Of bOOmakng The
personal anecdotes are mostly OF trivial character and
contribute little knOwledgc OF Thackeray. although
as nothing relating his individuality Is without
siepifcaiae they will be cOnned With certain IN