304 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



color and function. In fact, considering its many good qualities, it is a 

 close question whether it is not the first in importance in the make-up of 

 the park. The human form is said to be the noblest object on earth ; and 

 well it may be, as it is made in the likeness and image of God; and the 

 tree, all things considered, seems to approach nearest this paragon of cre- 

 ation. A park without trees would be like a face without nose, eyes or 

 lips. And right here begins the trouble. We must have both trees and 

 lawn, and the great problem is to determine correctly the due proportion 

 of each. The trees must not encroach upon the lawn, nor the lawn upon 

 the trees ; and the trees must be of the proper kind, and each must be 

 in its proper place, not only that each may be seen to the best advantage, 

 but that each in combination, or by contrast with other objects, may 

 reflect most beauty upon all. I am fully aware that, when I touch upon 

 the subject of trees, I am on delicate, if not holy ground. Shade, the 

 cooling shade in the sultry noontide, with the gentle winds fanning the 

 burning brow, is delightful. It is the next best thing to a sherry cobbler, 

 or rather a lemonade with a straw in it ; and there are those who, when 

 you mention a park, can think of nothing |3ut the burning brow, the 

 sombre shade, the whispering winds and the sherry cobbler, or rather a 

 lemonade with the straw in it. But sultry suns and sweltering days do 

 not make up the whole of life ; if they did, perhaps the sooner Ave 

 betook ourselves to the caves and ice-houses the better. If the object 

 is shade, have a forest at once; but do not misname.it by calling it 

 a park. 



But the great question is, what kind of trees shall be planted? And 

 this question must be met. Nothing will be gained by dodging it, or 

 approaching it sideways, or by a flank movement. The enemy cannot 

 be thrown off" his guard by any such strategy, so let us meet it squarely, 

 and at once. I hate a soft maple. It is a sprawling, misshapen, rickety 

 thing. It has neither beauty nor durability — which is perhaps its highest 

 recommendation — nor freedom from insects, nor is it good for shade or 

 firewood. It is " neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring." It is said 

 in its behalf that it grows rapidly; and so does the toadstool, and thistles, 

 and bad habits; and who cares to cultivate these? Let us away with it; 

 for while we have the soft maple we can have nothing better. We have 

 a great variety of trees, "native, to the manor born," beautiful in shape, 

 rich in foliage, healthy, neat, and free, or comparatively free, from 

 insects. Why cumber the ground with the worthless, unsightly soft 

 maple ? The elm has some beauty, is healthy, and grows to a good old 

 age. It lives long enough to become a landmark, and to be loved for its 

 associations. But its chief merit, with many, is its rapid growth. In this 

 it is in keeping with the times. The fault of the age is haste — haste in 

 everything: haste to enjoy; "haste to the wedding," which is all very 

 well ; haste to be rich. The cry is, " Let the golden stream be quick and 

 violent." Now, do we ever stop to consider that time is the chief factor 

 in all excellence ; that excellence is in proportion to the time expended 

 in its production. The finest works of art have exhausted a lifetime. 

 The richest gems have in all probability required millions of years for 



