"Yes, but I trust you will be able to use your knowledge for a better purpose than just discriminating in furniture. The simpler your furniture the less mental work you will need to think of it. That gives your thoughts so much more time for happier work and ideas," replied Miss Miller.
"I see a tree over in that little dell that looks as if it had nuts growing on it," said Hilda.
"I guess it has, for it is a beech tree," replied the Guide. "Can you describe any of its points?"
"We have gathered beech-nuts every year, Miss Miller, and Mrs. Sherwood and mother have pickled them. Umph! but they taste good in winter!" said Zan.
"I have never tasted them but I have heard of the delicious flavour when eaten with cold meats," replied Miss Miller.
"I can tell a beech from another tree by its leaves, but I don't know any of its growing points," added Zan.
"Well, the beech is not a very well-known tree—I mean it is not as commonly seen on the lawns, street-parquets, or parks, as the oak, maple, or elm. A beech tree often grows to be a hundred feet high and is from three to eight feet thick. Some have had a diameter of eleven feet. The bark is smooth, ash-coloured. The timber is fine grained and the roots of the tree do not go deep down, but spread out underneath the surface of the ground. The foliage of the beeches I have seen are purple, silver, and red. The name to designate the kind of beech tree is given by the colour of the leaves."
"There, that's ten trees!" called Nita.
"No, that only makes nine?" contradicted Jane.