than since the taste for conifers sprang up in the thirties and forties of the last century. Of a few of them such as the Tupelo tree, the Persimmon, the Sassafras, only one or two have attained large dimensions. Many of the Japanese trees which in their native forest attain an immense size, though quite capable of enduring the most severe frosts which occur from time to time in this country, seem quite unable to develop into timber trees here. But the recent introductions from Western China which we owe mainly to Mr. Wilson’s indefatigable labours, though too recently planted to enable one to judge of their eventual success, seem on the other hand to be quite at home and better adapted to our soil and climate than their nearest Japanese allies,
The other point that my pictures bring out clearly is the great difficulty of getting really fine photographs of trees unless their position is favourable and the weather quite perfect. I spared no pains or expense in procuring the services of the best photographers I could find, as I soon realised that I had neither the technical ability nor time to do my own photography. In my earlier journeys I used to take a professional artist with me, Mr. Wallis of Kew and Mr. Foster of Burford being my best helpers, but the weather and the lack of time to wait for a favourable light often made their negatives far from perfect; and I found by degrees that it was better to visit the places first, select those trees most worthy of illustration, note the position and lime of day from which the best view could be obtained, and leave the work to the best local photographer who could select the most favourable weather for his visit.
In some cases such as the Queen Beech at Ashridge, though several attempts were made by skilful photographers, the best negative fails to do justice to the subject, as will be seen by comparing the plate No. 3 with the coloured frontispiece drawn by an artist fifty years previously. Such artists are now very rarely found, and it is very curious how few even among the best draughtsmen seem capable of putting on paper the outlines of trees in a manner which enables one to recognise what they are. Oaks, beeches, Scots pine and birch trees arc about the only kinds which one often sees at all well reproduced in landscape, and yet it is astonishing how a person well acquainted with trees can recognise them at a distance by their outlines and general appearance.
When travelling in other countries I often regretted that I had not taken up photography seriously, for though in. North America and Japan I spent a good deal of money in obtaining negatives of some of the most remarkable trees, I did not always get the negatives that I had paid for or they were unsuitable for reproduction. Thus though, when examined with a glass, there are many quite first-class pictures in our work, there are also a proportion which 1 would not have used if I could have got any better.
During the numerous journeys which I made in all parts of England I came across a great many interesting people and places, and saw a great many rural beauties which the ordinary tourist never dreams of. But perhaps what struck me most forcibly was the fact that not only on great estates whose owners for centuries have looked on their trees not as a source of income but as a heritage to be preserved and cherished, but
