386 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



come each s^^ring to delight the eye — yes ! and when the lily of the valley aud 

 the lonely violet seeks the shady brooks, when tiie twining vines make nests 

 for so many birds, — and safe, because the children are their friends and pro- 

 tectors. The children will soon know of the clump of vines that form the 

 bower in one corner and the wild shrubbery tliat grows so rank in another, 

 and how sweet the perfume of the morning hour and how lovely the music of 

 the feathered songsters that make their leafy retreats melodious. Such 

 grounds in each school district would not only be instructive, but very attrac- 

 tive, and would in many locations bo veritable oases — the pride of the neigh- 

 borhood, the envy of those without them, and a place of resort to old and 

 young. 



Why not have them such? and not only the school grounds but the grounds 

 of every grange and town hall and every country church — let there be room 

 enough given to each, and then plant and care for the trees and shrubs until 

 long enough to take care of themselves. Could we make the tax law of the 

 State we would impose a tax upon every hall, church and school building 

 whose grounds were not ample and well protected and decorated with trees 

 and shrubs, also every man who did not plant trees along the roadside to give 

 comfort to the traveller and protect his own growing crops. As the day is 

 most at hand when forestry is to become a necessity among ns, why not in- 

 struct, young and old, at once, both by precept and example, in the selection 

 and planting of trees, — and where can such schools of experimental forestry be 

 better located and be of greater advantage than upon the grounds of our pub- 

 lic buildings, enduring lessons and perpetual monuments to those who plant 

 and rear them? May not Michigan schools then move in this direction — 

 inculcating a knowledge of the forms and habits of grouping and classifying 

 in planting and imbibing of the beauty nature will give, while thus aiding her 

 to place her floral gems before the eyes of all. 



EVERGREENS. 



VALUE OF EVERGREENS IN WINTER. 



Walking out to-day in the bitter cold of a winters morning, with the 

 mercury at zero, thoughts in accord with the weather came to my mind. 

 These thoughts naturally dwelt at first on the intensity of the cold, bleak 

 wind, but as I passed suddenly into the lee of a grove of Norway spruces, my 

 mind, sympathizing with my physical condition, turned to tlie value of ever- 

 greens in winter. Anything tliat could afford such delightful shelter in winter 

 deserves mention in the highest terms. During the temporary luxury of 

 walking in the lee of these trees, I made up my mind, as I had never done 

 before, that every one should plant evergreens to the north and west of his 

 dwelling. I fully realized at this moment their supreme value as wind-breaks, 

 and wondered exceedingly why people did not always attend to this matter. 

 Deciduous trees may be, and arc, valuable and delightful on other parts of the 

 lawn, but nothing can take the ])lace of evergreens for the north and west. 



