452. 



MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



friends, and the associations of early youth are an important factor 

 also. Who can ever gaze unmoved upon the trees most clearly 

 pictured in the memories of childhood ? The varieties of oak, native 

 to this state, were the constant companions of my youthful rambles, 

 and the intimacy thus begun in early days will last, undiminislied, 

 to my latest breath. To another, the elm might be dearest, from 

 a similar cause, while to the individual born and bred in the moun- 

 tain ranges of New Mexico, Arizona or California some storm- 

 racked conifer will dearer prove than any beautiful specimen of a 



The largest elm in at l,awrence, Massachusetts. 



favored but alien clime. The human exception to this rule is fur- 

 nished by the nature in which familiarity always breeds contempt. 

 This class invariably undervalues home ties and relations to unduly 

 glorify exotic growth, either in vegetation or humanity. 



Thus, while the majority recognizes all trees as kin, our first 

 cousins among them differ with the individual. And here let us 

 pause to advance the general proposition that it is the lover, seem- 

 ingly, who determines the situation usually — not the beloved. In 

 the majority of instances, through some blessed law of affection, 'tis 

 the one who gives most who receives most ; and so do our leafy re- 

 lations only yield their secrets and love lavishly to those who care 

 understandingly and yearn deeply for their companionship ! Also, 

 they are no respecter of persons — their best is given as generously 



