10G STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



fall, which is favorable to the production of sound fruit buds. This mulch is 

 always clean at the time of fruit gathering, soft as a carpet, keeping the fruit 

 that falls nice and free from grit, which is no small item. In a young orchard, 

 which is liable to be attacked by mice, if the oats should get a very strong- 

 growth, as they may in a warm, wet fall, they should be mowed off before the 

 snow falls, as they may furnish material for the mice to harbor in. Whatever 

 system of cultivation may be adopted for the general cultivation of fruit 

 orchards, the most important to be considered, perfect drainage, and yet suf- 

 ficient moisture, fertility of soil, protection of roots in winter, thorough 

 cultivation in spring and summer, and a war of eternal vigilance against preying 

 insects. 



TKEE PLAXT1XG. 



HEAD BEFORE THE SOUTH HAYEK" POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY BY 11. DALE ADAMS, 



GALESBUEG. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the South Haven Pomological Society: 



I am exceedingly gratified at being able to meet with you this evening and 

 discourse about planting trees. My only regret is that some abler person Avas 

 not chosen in my stead to address you. The subject is worthy the attention of 

 the ablest and wisest, and possibly they might fail of doing it justice. The 

 planting of trees has engaged the attention of nearly all nations of which his- 

 tory makes mention from the earliest record down to the present time. Nor is 

 it to be expected otherwise, since the hand of Deity has furnished mankind 

 with the first example by planting the tree whose tempting fruit proved so dis- 

 astrous to our first parents, and thereby has Avell nigh ruined us all. Sometimes 

 the planting of trees has been pursued as a matter of taste alone, at others from 

 practical utility, and again from some absolute necessity, and from these vari- 

 ous reasons or causes we find the practice handed down to our own time and 

 to the present day. From the first planting in Eden it is but a step down to 

 Babylonian times. If traditional history shall weigh aught with us, we find 

 groves, and gardens, and avenues planted in exrpiisite taste, the fruits of which 

 might vie with ours of the present day in lusciousness and beauty- The Ivomans, 

 the Greeks, and the Persians before them, all had their gardens, groves and 

 pleasure grounds. These were the resort of the philosophers and teachers of 

 the classic age. Plato and his followers giving and receiving instruction be- 

 neath the shady groves of Academus are among the examples of which history 

 has furnished us a record. All the civilized nations of modern times have en- 

 couraged the planting of trees. Executive and legislative authority have 

 exercised their stern decrees, and many and liberal have been the appropria- 

 tions therefor both as regards talent and money. Millions of dollars were spent 

 by France during the reign of the first Napoleon in transplanting trees from 

 the forests to the environs of Paris to ornament and beautify that gay capitol. 

 Some of them we are informed were of immense size, requiring the strength of 

 several horses to move a single tree. Nor has our own time and country been 

 found far in the rear with this grand work, and should the enthusiasm of this 

 day continue to move us on in this direction, the time is not distant when we 

 may eclipse them all in the embellishment and beautifying of our parks, our 

 avenues or highways, as well as the lawns surrounding our homesteads and 

 dwellings. 



Should any of vou visit Fairniount Park during this centennial year and note 



