The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-03
RECENT LlTERATUR RE.


RECENT RE.
FAMILIAR TREES AND THEIR LEAVES. By
| F.. Schuyler Matthews. Published by the ID.
Appleton Co., New York.
| This volume will be very welcome to all
lovers of outdoors-a guide to those who de-
| light to linger in the forests and beside " the
| little rivers" and who study the life OF the
| fields and rOadsides. 1t is written with the
| poets eye for color and form and beauty. and
| with the botanist's love for accuracy ana 1nti-
mate knowledge of the particular trees. In
| truth, it is one of those books that has found
the happy combination that hrst makes Que
acquainted with Nature, and then makes Que
| friends with her.
| A generation or 80 ago, when our forests
| were larger, and when many OF our folks were
| building log cabins and making tiny SETTLE
ments in the great forest countries, everyone
was familiar with the varieties Of trees and all
their peculiarities Of leaf and bark and grain.
Nowadays most people speak of some special
tree just as tree" where people who nave
ever lived long among or near trees speak oil
them by name-maples oaks, eIms, or pines;
or he will even distinguish more closely, and
say "That white pine" or, The black oak.
Trees were landmarks aud to say that you
| took the road to the left when you reached the
three sycamores, was as definite and clear as
when. nowadays. ono would say When yon
| reach Fourteenth street. turn to the right.
| To-Day. In the Clues, GHeT6 are many 'Oiho "hV
would be puzzled to tell three sycamores from
three efms or three oaks, which is very de-
plorable :,
In the introduction L. II. Bailey. Of Cornell.
SAYS: "Tree growth is constant source OF
wonder to one who contemplates Nature Inc
rigid bole. the bracing and far-searching roots,
the ontspreading top, with its myriad members
and its infinite variety of form and expression,
all combine to make an organism In which
strength durability, gracefulness. and tender
ness all at once the dominant characters
tics In all the range of Nature there IS no OBJ
iect which so commonly inspires the tenderer
and finer emotions. and which would leave the
earth SO bare Of loneliness IL it were removed
Itself devoid OF personality it still lends itself
to the expression of all feelings of the heart.
1t is gay or sad, warm or cold, peaceful or rest
i've, the reflection of the passing mood of the
observer. Everyone loves the trees, though he
may not know it.
The arrangement of the book is one that will
recommend itself to beginners in the study OF
| treo-lore. The leaves are cassi fed by char
: | acterstcs that make themselves evident at q
glance 1t is as easy to identify the leaves in
this fashion as it is difficult under the ordi-
. nary botanical methods. 10 make identified
ton still easier every leaf described is pictured
with accurate drawings. These leaf-sketches
, are very graceful, and add much to the charm
of the book.
To give an idea of the style Of the book we
quote part of the chapter OIL the pines:
! THE evergreens are pre-eminentiy trees OF
: Winter. At no other season of the year Is the
greenness of foliage quite restiul and CRATE
full 70 the eyes. But this demucent effect on
: ones eyesight. at the time OF the dazzling
SHOWS, is nothing in comparison with the mar
velOus amelorating influences which these
Winter trees exert on our rigorous Northern
@ cold They rob the Winter winds of their
. severity, and produce for the invalid an equa-
BILE and temperate climate, possessing remark
able beath-giving qualities.
;, "There is no exaggeration Of truth in saying
that the temperature in pine belt differs radi-
caly from that in the open country 10 miles
away. although it would be difficult to demon
!. strate the fact by means of thermometer.
s "The fine needed white pine is the most valu-
: able timber tree Of our country. 1t grows with
a straight trunk from 70 to $50 feet high, and
: has yellowsh- white soft wood with a straight
grain nearly free from resin. The white pine
L has the softest and most delicate needle OF all
Q the Species 1t grows in little bunch of five,
n and varies in length from three to four inches
Its color is clear, lghtish green, with trihe
r of whtish bloom. The cone, from four to six
: inches long is narrow and slightly curved; il
: has no prickle at the tip of the rather thin
. scales.
This pine is common from Maine westward
j. to Minnesota and eastern Iowa southwark il
! extends along the Allegheny Mountains to Geor
s ga. On older specimens the gray. brown trunk
q is rough, but on the younger ones it is quite
smooth"
There ia a sketch of branch of the tree. o.
!. one of the little bundles of needles, and of 8
;, cone.
d The authors love of tree coors shows forth
IS in an account of the Scotch pine; or, as it is
often wrongly called, the Scotch FIR" The
color of this pine is study for an artist. In
z many specimens it is a most beautiful light
y sage green, and in others it is a blush sage
green.
l. OF that dear common tree-the only tree that
nearly everybody recognizes-the maple, be
d saws: "The naples are no doubt our hand.
g soonest trees in the largest sense of the word
j. no others can compare with them in the splsn
IS did coloring of their Antumnal dress. What
surprises our English cousins on beholding fol
q the first time New England landscape in Au
IS tumn, is the brillancy of the foliage More
= credit is due to the sugar and silver naples fol
this brilliant color than to all the rest of the
d trees put together. Scarlet in its purest tones
J. yellow in its clearest tints golden orange with
n hardly touch of rust-these hues which
l. the naples almost exclusively possess, anG
colors which are rarely seen in Old England
Several varieties of naples are considered in dut
l. order-the mountain maple, the striped maple
N the sugar maple, the black sugar maple, th'
9 silver maple, the red maple, and the Norway
maple.
e There are some 200 or more sketches of th'
r leaves and fruits of different trees, taking il
i all of the familiar trees, enough TO Ill the Au
tumn months with delightful study aud t.
as carry one leisurely through the Winter and t.
TT bring forth again when the Springtim max e.
as one long for the fields and forests. In thu
Springtime it is indeed pity to have no tree
ID lore. Not to watch for the little velvet-soft ret
n leaves of the oak for the dainty, silken beecl
ID leaves for the pink tassels of the maple, is I,
r miss an exquisite bit OF lfe an ecstasy of fresh
g. ness, and until the fall of the last glowing lea
n of the Autumn season, trees are dear friends Il
o. all who will seek their acquaintance and to Al
e. old friend trees have an intangible, indefinabl
ts Winter beauty.
Cd Magazines and Notes.
= See w. Granville Smiths A Popular Wave II
a TRUTH All trains and news stands.
i. McCgure's Magasine with . stirring barrack
10 room ballad by Kipling, athriling installmen
of Anthony Hopes Phroso dramatic sea stor,
DIS by an actual sailor. and characteristic stOrie
of by Mrs. Spofford and Clinton Ross, maintaina
at in the September number, its usual enticin
u aspect. In scanning q table Of contents o
or McClure's, one never experiences. it must b
i'd allowed, the familiar difficulty Of finding some
Is. thing one really cares to read.
"a A WOman's Remedy for Woman.
ne Ruth Goldsmith's Royal Tea. A simple family N
II cine that absolute safeguard against all thOs
troubles that constantly menace the health and goo
looks of Sent free with valuable advice AZ
Mi