Ornamental Trees. 109 



to work for a more general spread of knowledge among the 

 farmers of the state. You let the farmers' institutes be kept 

 running for three years throughout the state and it will 

 drive out every one of these fellows. 



Mr. Hoxie — When I drew off a copy of this bill I thought it 

 would not meet our wants herein Wisconsin, and so I wrote 

 one and brought it here with me. I have talked with a few 

 of the members and got pretty well discouraged with it, but 

 our president has thrown a little light upon the subject, and 

 I decided to let it see the light of day. 



A. L. Hatch — I have been in the nursery business, al- 

 though I am not in it now, and I would not ask anything 

 better, if I was one of the firm of L, L. May & Co., than for 

 the state of Minnesota to give me a license. I think that 

 law will not be on the statute books three years before they 

 will be called to repeal it. 



Adjourned. 



Meeting called to order at 7:30 P. M. 



The first thing on the programme was a paper: 



ORNAMENTAL TREES. 



By a. L. hatch, Ithaca, Wis. 



To be ornamental trees must be beautiful, each specimen 

 handsome of itself. An ugly tree cannot by its associa- 

 tion become ornamental. By contrast it may seem to " s<^t 

 off" other good looking trees, but its real effect is detract- 

 ing. An ill-shaped, misshapen tree is a failure for ornamen- 

 tal purposes and should be removed unless it has other 

 values to redeem it. Whatever tree is chosen to save from 

 native growth, or whatever is selected to plant about dwell- 

 ings, along roadsides, or in public parks for the purpose of 

 adding to the beauty of the landscape or scenery, should in- 

 variably possess that grace of outline and makeup what is 

 always pleasing to the eye. There may be strength and 

 grandeur in the giant branches and sturdy tops of burr and 

 black oaks, and the ruddy color of their autumn leaves may 

 lend force to a rugged scene, but it is a strength of power 



