the young tree with an abundance of water, and the mulch afterward
spread as before. Such watering is often essential, and it should
be thorough. Unskilled persons usually do more harm than good by
their half-way measures in this respect.

Speaking of trees, it may so happen that the acre is already in
forest. Then, indeed, there should be careful discrimination in
the use of the axe. It may be said that a fine tree is in the way
of the dwelling. Perhaps the proposed dwelling is in the way of
the tree. In England the work of "groving," or thinning out trees,
is carried to the perfection of a fine art. One shudders at the
havoc which might be made by a stolid laborer. Indeed, to nearly
all who could be employed in preparing a wooded acre for
habitation, a tree would be looked upon as little more than so
much cord-wood or lumber.

If I had a wooded acre I should study the trees most carefully
before coming to any decision as to the situation of the dwelling
and out-buildings. Having removed those obviously unworthy to
remain, I should put in the axe very thoughtfully among the finer
specimens, remembering that I should be under the soil before
Nature could build others like them.

In the fitting up of this planet as the home of mankind it would
appear that the Creator regarded the coniferae, or evergreen
family, as well worthy of attention; for almost from the first,
according to geologists, this family records on the rocky tablets
of the earth its appearance, large and varied development, and its
adaptation to each change in climate and condition of the globe's
surface during the countless ages of preparation. Surely,