Addresses — Plant Development and Training. 225 



Two sublime thoughts — one from a heathen, the other from a 

 Christian source. The oak standing: alone, 



"Waves its giant arms athwart the sky." 



In the grove we find 



"All meek things; 

 All tbat need hooi'i and covert, love the shade! 

 Birds, of shy song, and low-voiced, quiet springs, 

 And nun-like violets by the mind betrayed." 

 The "Honied lime, 

 Showers cool, green light o'er banks where flowers weave 



Thick tapestry ; and woodbine tendrils climb 

 Up the brown oak, and buds of moss and thyme — 



And the white poplar, from its foliage hoar, 

 Scatters forth gleams like moonlight, with each gale 

 That sweeps the boughs." 



Our civilization seems to be carrying us further and further to- 

 ward the artificial. We are too apt to discuss and run after fine- 

 spun theories, even in the cultivation of our soil, the planting of 

 an orchard, the adornment of our homes, and the development, by 

 training, of our trees and plants. It is well to come back to the 

 natural once in a while, and observe how nature does her work. 

 She has made the oak, standing alone on the landscape, to spread 

 its sturdy arms widely, bidding defiance to the blast; or, in the 

 deep forest, to carry its shaft up, up, with a green canopy of leaves 

 at the top. We may take a lesson here in natural development, 

 and profit by it. The elm with its noble trunk, and its lithe pen- 

 dulous branches swinging in the breeze, may not be cut into rigid 

 form, nor the oak be made to put on an aspect of sweeping grace 

 and beauty. Cone bearing trees may not be decapitated, except to 

 their ruin, unless we want them for low growing wind breaks. The 

 tulip tree, if it, at last, do not carry its top well above the oaks 

 and walnuts, has been planted in vain. So we must know whether 

 we plant for ornament or utility, or both. If for ornament, let us 

 select some at least, hardy as to latitude, but exotic as to locality — 

 not forgetting our noble elms, maples, walnuts, lindens and tulip 

 trees. Let us not forget that there is profit, as there is pleasure, 

 in the development of an orchard and a vegetable garden. Let us 

 not forget that, a few beds of flowers, cut here and there in the 



