bare and dreary, and the evenings are long, and
afford fine opportunity for such amusement. And what is more important
still, the sheets prepared as we have shown can be sent through the mail
to distant parts of the land, where the trees displayed on them do not
grow, and are wholly unknown.

Thus our young readers, scattered over the United States and Canada and
elsewhere, can supply each other with specimens, so that each may make
up a collection from the trees growing over a very wide area.

Most trees are very long lived, and some are still living that are known
to be hundreds of years old. Certain kinds of wood, too, seem almost
incapable of decay if protected from the weather.

Probably the oldest timber in the world which has been used by man is
that found in the ancient temples of Egypt, in connection with the
stone-work, which is known to be at least four thousand years old. This,
the only wood used in the construction of the temple, is in the form of
ties, holding the end of one stone to another. When two blocks were laid
in place, an excavation about an inch deep was made in each block, into
which a tie shaped like an hour-glass was driven.

The ties appear to have been of the tamarisk or shittim wood, of which
the ark was constructed--a sacred tree in ancient Egypt, and now very
rarely found in the valley of the Nile. The dovetailed ties are just as
sound now as on the day of their insertion. Although fuel is extremely
scarce in the country, these bits of wood are not large enough to make
it an object with the Arabs to heave off layer after layer to obtain
them. Had they been of bronze, half the old temples would have been
destroyed years ago.

If those among our young friends who are alive to the charms of nature
will arrange some specimens of trees on the plan we have explained, and
label the sheets with the common names of the trees, and the scientific
names also, if they can find them out from their parents, we will be
glad to hear from them, and will publish their letters in the
Post-office Box, so that they can make exchanges with each other.

Very little folks, who may find it too hard to get the bark and the
blossoms, can begin by making collections simply of the leaves. Be
careful to cut the sheets exactly of the size we have mentioned, so
that when laid together they will make a nice even pile like a book.
And, remember, don't send them to us; only write, and let the
Post-office Box know when