STATE rOMOLOGICAl. SOCIETY. 320 



season, it was a remarkably fine one. As to the flower garden the 

 past year, from my own experience, whether as to roses, bulbs, 

 perennials or annuals, I should say that I never remember so 

 nnpropitious a season, cold and wet in the spring and very dr^' in 

 the sunmier. 



In all farming operations, what is there that gives greater satis- 

 faction to the farmer, than to gather a bountiful croi) of fruit at the 

 different seasons, that years before he planted in faith, then grafted, 

 and for year after year has been watching to see if they continued 

 erect — had an open top to admit the sun. no branches crossing one 

 another, that they were well balanced and that no borers, mice or 

 caterpillars were at work to destroy all his hopes. How many de- 

 prive themselves of this pleasure and profit, because the results are 

 not innnediate, but that patient waiting for some 3'ears is necessary, 

 forgetting the familiar stor}' of the man who had always made this 

 excuse for not planting an orchard, but lived to eat fruit raised by 

 his grandson. 



Besides planting an orchard, there is another subject now exciting 

 great attention all over the woi-ld — owing to the destruction of the 

 forests what sad results have happened. The land of Palestine, in 

 the da3's of Bible history, was a land described as flowing with 

 milk and honey, now, owing solely to the destruction of the trees, 

 is a barren waste ; and such, too, is the case with many parts 

 of Spain, once so A'ery fruitful. We, perhaps, can scarceh' expect 

 our farmers just yet to devote much time or expense to planting 

 forest trees, but when driving through the country one sees the 

 school-house with not a tree near it, exposed to the scorching ra^-s 

 of the sun, and the bleak blasts of winter, and no shade for the 

 children to enjoy at recess, — and the same, too, may be said of many 

 a farmers house — when all this could be changed at such a trifling 

 expense, it does seem passing strange. And, besides a tree or two 

 in front of the farmer's house for shade, and a clump at the north- 

 west as a protection, at what slight cost can he add a cheap porch 

 made of branches of trees or of laths, and upon this train a honey- 

 suckle, a Virginia Creeper, or Clematis, or better yet a grape vine, 

 and then by the expenditure of two or three hours labor, make one 

 or two beds for his wife and daughters to ornament with flowers and 

 shrubs ; nothing can be more refining and civilizing than this. The 

 clearing up of trees and bushes causes springs and brooks to dry up. 

 Nearly every farm in this region has swales or gullies, and these 



