REPORTS OF LOCAL SOCIETIES. 359 



sell them they are taken home, there to die in a filthy cage by starva- 

 tion and neglect. Such cruelty to young birds should be condemned 

 by every intelligent man, woman and child of our land, and I hope 

 the time is not far distant when there will be but few who are not wil- 

 ling to speak and act in their behalf. 



Who would not speak in defense of the birds when they think of 

 the many days spent in their childhood under the leafy boWer of some 

 spreading tree or wandering through the shady groves, where all na- 

 ture seems to be animated by the cheerful melody of the many song 

 birds as they fit from branch to branch, singing forth their praise. 



Those are days that are treasured in our memory — written with in- 

 delible ink on the pages of our life, never to be forgotten. Such will 

 be the memory of our children when they become men and women, if 

 they are taught to value each bird according to worth. There are 

 many children who are taught to love and cherish the beauties of na- 

 ture, such as birds and flowers, and from such children we may expect 

 noble men and women. 



A. C. SKINis'ER. 



EARLY AND LATE CULTIVATION OF TREES AXD PLANTS. 



BY JOHN B. INNIS. 



Upon a correct understanding and a proper application of this 

 subject of cultivation depends our success in horticulture, and a sub- 

 ject of vital importance to every cultivator of trees and plants. Culti- 

 vation of the soil by mechanical means is simply separating its part- 

 icles, thus fining and pulverizing and putting it in the best possible 

 condition for the small hair like roots, to make their way through it in 

 search of food and moisture. The effects to retain moisture, the part- 

 icles of earth being separated admits the air, which leaves a portion of 

 its moisture, especially during the night, and slow to throw off or give 

 up its moisture. A pulverized soil is cooler in hot weather; the part- 



