250 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the year previous and putting some rich earth around the roots. Have a 

 proper respect for the roots of the tree, and don't mercilessly tear off the fibrous 

 roots, — its feeding mouths. But the after treatment is of the most importance 

 to preserve the tree. Keep the surface clean and mellow by hoed crops or 

 otherwise, or next best, mulch well around the tree to keep down the weeds 

 and preserve moisture. 



Mr. A. J. Gould then continued the same subject, by speaking of his success 

 in transplanting evergreens, particularly the red cedar. Don't be afraid to cut 

 the top of an evergreen, such as the cedar, spruce and pine. The white pine 

 will form a compact and beautiful head by cutting back and shortening in the 

 branches. It is not best to water a tree after setting it out. If a dry time 

 comes, rather loosen up the ground and keep in the moisture by mulching. 



The discussion then turned on the improvement that might be made in our 

 city and village streets, and country roads, if people would consent to take a 

 little pains to plant trees as well as to cut them down. What is more pleasing 

 to all that is refined and noble in a man's soul, than to see a well-kept street, 

 lined with graceful and elegant elms, maples, whitewood or other good street 

 trees, or to pass a house where the well-kept lawn, the vines on the trellis or 

 the house, and the shrubs and trees on the grass plat, be it never so small, 

 give evidence of taste and a desire to surround one's home with beauty? Yet 

 in spite of the pleasure it gives to plant trees with one's own hand, and see the 

 increasing beauty of the drives and lawns about our dwellings, many will not 

 go to the slight trouble and expense of doing so, but will crowd their houses 

 with sofas and carpets, chromos and "what nots," and leave their surround- 

 ings rough and desolate. If you care to see our beautiful city look more beauti- 

 ful, and our whole country smile with verdure like "Bonnie England," if 

 you are disposed to beautify your dwellings, plant shrubs and trees, and do it 

 this fall. Commemorate your birth day or other signal event, by planting a 

 tree. If you own a village lot on a street bare and unattractive, increase its 

 value by planting on it the trees mentioned above, or the horse chestnut, bass- 

 wood, cherry, white ash, purple beech, cut-leaved birch, or the evergreens, — 

 Norway and hemlock spruce, and Austrian, Scotch and white pine. Dot your 

 lawns with grapes and single specimens of such shrubs as spirgea. flowering 

 almond, chionanthus (white fringe), barberry, calycanthus and syringa, and train 

 vines like Virginia creeper, clematis in variety, and aristolochia, over your 

 porches. Then if the Horticultural Society should ever offer a premium for 

 the neatest and best kept lawn in the county, you would be sure to get it. 



It was stated to be understood that a rebate of highwav tax was allowed on 

 trees planted along a highway to the amount of twenty-five cents per tree. 

 After some other minor debate the society adjourned. 



Besides the holding of these meetings from time to time for the benefit of its 

 members, the society has sought to interest others by publishing the reports of 

 its meetings pretty fully in the city and county papers, and occasional copies 

 have been sent to the State and other papers interested in horticulture. A 

 number of reports of the State Horticultural Society of different years have 

 been procured and distributed somewhat, and at the fair of the county Agricul- 

 tural Society, a headquarters was established where opportunity was given for 

 all who passed to see something of the nature and work of the society. By these 

 and similar means, we hope to extend our work and influence so as to do what 

 we can for horticulture in Jackson county. 



