Annual Meetitig at St. Jot-epli. 181 



to the attractiveness by the addition of well arranged programmes 

 of flower beds carefully cared for and cultivated, thereby incul- 

 cating in the pupils a taste for rural ornamentation. The 

 secretary's report contains many flattering reports of the success in 

 this direction made by the teachers. 



Our boulevards and public roads should not be overlooked. A 

 row of our best native shade trees planted and cared for along each 

 side, would not only add much to the beauty of the country, but in 

 time afl:ord a refreshing shade during the heated season of the year. 

 About forty years ago the city council of Terre Haute, Indiana, 

 passed an ordinance requiring the owners to plant and grow shade 

 trees on the streets in front of their lots. Since that time it has 

 grown to be a large and beautiful city, and as one result of that 

 ordinance has attained uniformity in well shaded streets seldom 

 met with. I chanced to stop in that city a short time since, and 

 through the politeness of a friend had a pleasant drive through 

 some of the principal streets and was informed that on one of these 

 streets there was a continuous drive of fourteen miles in length all 

 arched over by shade trees. Other instances might be enumerated 

 where Judicious arrangement or symmetry has lent a charm and 

 given notoriety to the locality. For example, a certain street in 

 Berlin has been shaded exclusively by Lynn trees. 



The fact has been significant in suggesting the popular name, 

 " The Linden," or as described by travelers " Unter den Linden.'^ 

 Here let me say, that our native Linden together with the Elm, 

 Ash and Sugar or Rock Maple comprise some of our most desirable 

 shade trees for streets and public highways. They need little or no 

 trimming, are thrifty and hardy, not liable to split or easily blown 

 down by storm. For examples of the more refined scenic art, we 

 no longer look to European countries where the embellishments are 

 confined to the nobility. Scientific men of America have improved 

 upon their examples and are furnishing living examples, unsur- 

 passed in the picturesque and sylvan beauty, and calculated to 

 excite the wonder and admiration of the world. 



The older states of course have availed themselves of all the 

 scenic advance of the art. 



As yet, in this state, we have to regret (with few exceptions) 

 that with the many costly edifices both in country and city, which 

 has called into requisition the talent of the most skilled architects, 

 that the towns and surrounding grounds have failed to be made to 

 correspond. Every town and city of any claim to importance 



