TRANSACTIONS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NORTIIKRN ILL. 367 



Then, we ask : Does it not and will it not pay? Is there not a profit 

 in planting and caring for good trees and plants for ornament? 



Every farm and orchard, every street and highway, every public 

 square, park or cemetery should have its ornamental planting, and all 

 property adjacent is increased in value when it is done. 



On the farm, around the orchard and fruit garden, near the house, 

 and along the highways, ornamental (not less than useful) screens of 

 deciduous or evergreen trees are more or less necessary as a protection 

 from wind and storm. Any farm, orchard or vineyard, thus protected, 

 will yield a much larger return annually, and its fruits will come earlier 

 into ripening ; consequently the value of the property will be greatly 

 increased. 



Says a certain medical writer, "A dwelling embowered in trees is 

 manifestly more comfortable in all seasons of the year, and must be more 

 healthful in consequence of the equalized temperature produced thereby," 

 and, of course, enhanced in value by this important aid. 



It has become a subject of common remark, and one upon which 

 there has been bestowed much time and study — the influence of trees on 

 climate and crops, as evinced by the destruction of our native forests 

 by the woodman's axe. Our personal observation was more particularly 

 called to this subject while traveling and visiting through the State of 

 New York, a few years since. The change had been so great, within the 

 space of twenty years that had elapsed, that we could scarcely realize that 

 we were in the same country. Where once grew the tall and massive 

 pines, hemlock, beach, maples, etc., nothing remained to tell the history 

 of these giants of the forests but an occasional stump ; fruit trees, which 

 once were thrifty and bent to the ground beneath their heavy burdens of 

 fruit, now bear the mark of decay ; the peach, which once grew as it 

 were almost spontaneously along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, had 

 become comparatively a failure. We inquired the cause of this great 

 change. The reply was, "Our seasons have changed since the timber 

 has been cut off." 



On our western prairies we are now beginning to see forests and 

 groves springing up here and there, which are being carefully cultivated 

 to protect farms and houses from the effect of storms and blighting winds, 

 and to furnish timber for fuel. Who can tell of the great increase of 

 value to accrue from these young groves, and from the vast lines of beau- 

 tiful hedges now growing up, checkering the prairies of Iowa, Kansas 

 and Nebraska, like lace-work, covered here and there with its clusters of 

 beautifully-worked flowers? Every home requires its arbor of vines, its 

 screens of evergreen trees and its beautiful hedge-rows, for the seclusion 

 they afi"ord, and to keep from view objects unsightly to the public eye ; 

 every porch and every approach to the home claims the grateful shade of 

 some overhanging tree, or the welcoming smiles of plants of beautiful 

 foliage and fragrant flowers. 



The healthful effects and profits of the various fruits of the garden 

 or field have their due importance : yet such associations of home are by 

 no means complete, till the inviting shades of beautiful trees and sweet 



