A Year in the Wonderland of Trees

Twelve months in the woods — why leaves turn, how squirrels bank their acorns, what the winds plant and the April rains conjure — nature writing for young wood scouts, one month at a time.

The Christmas Spirits and the Trees: December

10 pages in this part of Wonderland of Trees.

The Christmas Spirits and the Trees: December

Our ancestors who lived across the Big Water used to decorate their homes with the branches of the Evergreens in winter as a refuge for the…

The Christmas Spirits and the Trees: December: Pines

I. THE GIFTS OF THE PINE FAMILY In addition to the fact that they are so intimately related to the good times of the Christmas season there…

The Christmas Spirits and the Trees: December: California

In our illustrations we show five varieties: The Mexican Nut-Pine, of Arizona; Parry's Nut, native to lower California; Rocky Mountain Nut…

The Christmas Spirits and the Trees: December: Grows

Sugar-Pine: Another giant among the Pines. Not only is it a giant in size (12 x 220), but it bears, I believe, the biggest of all the…

The Christmas Spirits and the Trees: December: Tamarack

Tamarack: Is also a Larch--frequently called simply "the Larch." L : separate, 4-angled, 1-1 1/2 long; 2 X 60. Newfoundland to Minnesota…

The Christmas Spirits and the Trees: December: Cedar

Arbor-Vitce or White Cedar, shown in our illustration (L : 1/4; C : 1/3-1/2; 1 1/2 X 60), grows from Nova Scotia to Minn., south to N. C…

The Christmas Spirits and the Trees: December: Birches

Beech: Very hard, heavy, strong, and tough, though not durable in contact with the soil. Chairs, handles, woodenware, cooperage, flooring…

The Christmas Spirits and the Trees: December: Hornbeam

Hornbeam: But, speaking of hard woods, the palm goes to the Hornbeam, otherwise, for this very reason, known as "Ironwood." You remember my…

The Christmas Spirits and the Trees: December: Locust

Locust: Both the Black and Yellow Locusts are very heavy, strong, and durable. Locust wood is widely used for fence-posts and is excellent…

The Christmas Spirits and the Trees: December: Maple

Maple: Of the many varieties of maple, the kind the that furnished the delicious syrup for the breakfast-cakes also ranks first in the…

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