Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: AMERICAN FOREST-TREES. Sylva Americana. By D. J. Browne. Boston, 1831. The word Sylva can never be pronounced without recalling the memory of Evelyn, who, retired and unambitious as he was, has long been numbered among the benefactors of mankind. It was no small service to recommend the cultivation of ornamental trees, as a happy and elevating employment for men of leisure and fortune. Many a desolate village has been covered with beauty, and many a fiery street of the city shaded, in consequence of the enthusiasm inspired by his memory and example. Much, too, has been added to the glory of the visible world and the sources of philosophical contemplation, by taking these lords of the forest from their retirement, and placing them before the eye; for what nobler object can there be than a tree which has battled with the storms of ages, and still calmly waves from it the assault of the mightiest gales, standing in lofty independence, and throwing wide its protecting arms, as if it were offering shelter and shade to generations yet to come ? It is true, there are many to whom they would have little value, if regarded merely as materials and suggestions of thought; but there arenone to whom their usefulness does not make them important. Man must resort to them to build and furnish his dwelling, and then solicit their friendly shield to defend him from the summer sun. In winter he must resort to them again ; and they are ready to cast away their verdure " to let in the sun, and to light up his dwelling with their cheerful fires," like feudal vassals, willing either to live or die in the service of their chief. Even nations also are compelled to lean their mighty arms for support upon the neglected trees of the wood. The oaks which Evelyn planted aided to bear the thunder of Engla...