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winds; but that the location of forests greatly modified the exact application of this law, 

 and rendered imperative that we should study the path of storms on exact topographical 

 maps showing the location of forests, and that then only should we be able to make exact 

 predictions. 



The important part which trees play in absorbing pollution from the soil is set forth 

 in the following paper, read at the Montreal meeting : — 



THE COPPICE FOR THE VILLAGE AND THE FARM. 

 By Mr. M. C. Read, Hudson, 0. 



Tree culture serves many purposes besides the production of timber. In fact the 

 climatic and other influences affecting the agricultural interests are the most important 

 considerations for the planting of forest trees not designed merely for shade or orna- 

 ment. 



In village planting, trees can be only sparingly used in the immediate neighbourhood 

 of the dwellings. The same is true of farm-house planting, abundance of sunlight and the 

 free circulation of air are indispensable, which is seriously interferred with by the thick 

 planting sometimes, and too often practiced. A smoothly shaven well-kept lawn is the 

 crowning beauty of a park or village lot. A dense shade makes this impo.ssible, and in 

 all cases it is a difficult, and in many seasons a hopeless undertaking where there is not an 

 abundant supply of water available for frequent sprinkling. This is an indispensable 

 requisite, the want of which will prevent the dweller on the farm or in the village, from 

 enjoying the well-kept grounds which should characterize city residences. After doing 

 what they can in this respect the residents of the village and the country should resort to 

 a mode of planting adjusted to their condition, and this mode is best found in the coppice, 

 a forest in miniature, which, when once established, will take care of itself. On almost 

 every village lot there is some nook or corner in the rear on which such a plantation could 

 be malde, into which trees and shrubs should be crowded, without ordqr, in such numbers 

 as will prevent the growth of grass beneath them, with such a mixture of creepers, vines 

 and low growing herbaceous plants, that a dense thicket will be quickly formed, almost 

 impenetrable to man or beast. The beauty of such a thicket will consist in its native 

 untamed wildness, and, if adjacent to a well kept lawn, the two, like two complementary 

 colours brought together, will each enhance the beauty of the other. 



The cost of planting such a coppice is trifling, to secure the best results the ground 

 should be well prepared in the fall. Fertilizers added, if needed, and, in the early spring, 

 covered to the depth of three or four inches with leaf mould from the woods. The number 

 ot seedling trees, shoots and native flowering plants which will spring up from this 

 dr(>ssing will surprise one who has not tried the experiment. For the main planting take 

 th(; most easily obtained trees and shrubs from the nearest forest. Multitudes of seedlings 

 from four to ten feet high can be gathered, which, without digging, can be pulled up by 

 the roots. By selecting them in that manner, those without large tap roots, the surface 

 feeders will be gathered, and those most readily bear transplanting. As many flowering 

 shrubs, and as many that produce berries edible by the birds as practicable, should be 

 selected. To these should be added our native Clematis, the Virginia Creeper (Clematis 

 Virginia), the Ctaff tree (Celastrus scandens), the frost grape, and as many farm and 

 forest plants as can be readily obtained. For some time this coppice should be a kind 

 ot " Botany Bay," to which should be sent every ornamental shrub or flowering plant not 

 needed in the well-kept parts of the grounds. 



If, in laying out village plats, ten to forty or more square rods were reserved in the 

 c(!ntre of every block, upon which the rear of all the lots of the block would abut, to be 

 planted with such a coppice, it would secure the presence of a multitude of our small 

 insect eating birds, and be of immense value in the immediate sanitary results. The soil 

 of almost every village becomes so polluted from household offal as to literally poison the 

 water of nearly all the wells. Arrangements are almost always made to drain this offal 



