55 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



discordant cry, and consequently had a very poor opinion of the en- 

 thusiastic Audubonite who had called the cat-bird a song bird. 



During the coming year it is our intention to start a collection 

 of the seeds and wood of diiTerent trees that are native to Minne- 

 sota. In a small way we began this year with the oak, and found 

 that what at first thought appeared an easy task was really a quite 

 difficult undertaking. A handful of acorns shown to one man 

 would elicit one name, and when shown to another an entirely dif- 

 ferent name would be given. Books would give one form of leaf 

 for a tree, but in reality one tree would give specimens of leaves to 

 fit all varieties of oaks. We ask the members to help us in our 

 efforts by collecting acorns and pieces of wood and sending them 

 to us. 



So far in the exhibit at the State Fair, there has been no recog- 

 nition of children's work in horticulture. Why not start some plan 

 by which the children from twelve to twenty years of age may be 

 induced to take a vital interest in some department? A premium 

 will instil energy into their efforts. ( JfTer a prize for the best paper 

 or letter written on some specified topic and have it printed in the 

 "Horticulturist." 



Children should be taught to respect and love our forest trees, 

 shrubs and flowers. No lover of trees but what has felt his heart 

 ache over seeing a beautiful young tree in a grove or forest used as 

 a hitching post with the result of having the bark stripped off and 

 the tree left to live bruised and scarred. 



They should be taught that trees are the lungs of cities. All 

 day and all night men and animals and fires are fouling the 

 air, and the trees are purifying it. As an actual hygienic mea- 

 sure, they are worth more than the ground rent for the space they 

 occupy. They are also a genuine mental and moral influence. The 

 human race was born among the trees and has never forgotten its 

 origin. Hot pavements and blank walls are a cage to the growing 

 soul, and a row of trees to relieve the dreadful monotony of the 

 slums would doubtless turn the scale from bad to good in the 

 development of many a child of the city poor. And beautiful trees 

 everywhere are charming, ennobling things, the daily companion- 

 ship of which helps us to keep closer to the heart of nature. The 

 trees! May the earth and even the cities never grow too crowded 

 to make room for them! 



