SUMMER MEETING AT BROOKFIELD. 59 



nature has planted for you. Plant forest maples or elms, a wild rose 

 or begonia. 



If he complain that he has no time, I would answer : take a half 

 hour each day of that valuable time you waste in complaining to your 

 neighbors of " hard times," or a little of that precious time you cannot 

 afford to waste that you throw away in discussiDg vexatious politics. 

 We should keep in mind, that by our lives and examples we are mould- 

 ing the lives and characters of our children, and that by our example 

 we also influence our neighbors. 



Your committee have to report that while the earlier part of the 

 season of 1889 was favorable for the planting and growth of orna- 

 mental trees and shrubs, the latter part of this summer has been ex- 

 tremely unfavorable and destructive of many trees and plants that had 

 stood for years; but we believe that from the experience of such 

 seasons, we may learn many lessons by which we may profit in the 

 future. 



Occasional drouths bring greater benefits than an unbroken suc- 

 cession of prosperous seasons. 



From such experiences, the observing planter will be enabled to 

 determine what varieties of plants are most hardy, and will take pre- 

 cautionary measures to prepare against the result of such disasters in 

 the future. 



Seasons of drouth also enable the land to obtain partial rest, 

 thus permitting it to store up for following years such elements of 

 plant food as it may require. 



By observation and experience, we discover that those who have 

 used all means at their command, such as carefully cultivating and 

 mulching, have been successful in escaping serious losses from drouth. 



Mulching should not be deferred until late in the season, but must 

 be applied rather as a preventive than as a cure. 



Among evergreens, the Scotch pine seems to rank as king for hardi- 

 ness and vigor of growth. 



The white pine, the Norway spruce and Irish juniper, are all beau- 

 tiful and transplant easily and thrive in ordinary seasons. 



In blooming plants for all seasons, for all colors and for perfection, 

 we recommend the rose. Climbing roses, perpetual roses, monthly 

 roses, even the wild single roses of the prairie, are all beautiful. The 

 tree rose would seem to be worthy of the most complete indorsement 

 if it were only a little more hardy. I believe, however, that we may 

 enjoy this style of rose if we take the care to place them in cellar at 

 the beginning of winter and replant them in spring. 



