454 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



forest trees, seek to remind humanity of the departed summer only 

 to inspire faith in the coming spring. 



This reminder, or illusion, is more eagerly welcomed by some 

 of us than are bizarre effects provided by imported specimens or 

 so-called improved varieties, which seem to anticipate the autumn 

 while yet the summer lives in undiminished splendor. These purple, 

 red or yellow trees and shrubs savor of the abnormal, and we glance 

 at them askance, claiming no closer communion, much as we would 

 be likely to avoid an unbalanced nature among humankind. In 

 autumn, when bright hues reign, their peculiar traits are lost in the 

 general revel of gorgeous coloring, as unequal or distorted natures 

 may, amidst unusual circumstances, in seasons of stress or great 

 festivity, in company with others, seem lost — or, appropriate enough, 

 during the general commotion alTecting all. 



Nature plants "our cousins" in an inimitable manner, a manner 

 most difficult to copy, even by a landscape expert. When one views 

 some scene of surpassing beauty untouched by man, the untram- 

 meled, pure design, so perfect as a whole and in detail, holds a secret 

 in its perfection that is yet unsolved by the artist, landscape archi- 

 tect or nature-lover. While viewing the scene with admiration, one 

 gazes into paradise, a paradise that assumes a sphinx-like transition 

 when one seeks to penetrate the why and wherefore of its complete- 

 ness. 



It requires no prophet to predict that, some day, as now in 

 Europe, through the necessities of practical forestry, our woods 

 compassing any size will gradually become artificial in appearance ; 

 ultimately, to a considerable extent, beauty will be sacrificed to 

 utility ; which leads the tree-lover of today to reflect, half sadly, that 

 while coming centuries may achieve victories in science, art, in- 

 vention and altruism, surpassing the wildest dreams or hopes of the 

 present generation, one boon will be denied that coming race of men, 

 tmrestrained, natural intercourse with "our cousins, the trees" ! 



In conclusion, even the most careless and light-hearted among 

 us at times will picture the last resting place, where, perhaps willing- 

 ly, we are fated to lay us down to sleep. And what, in connection 

 with the surroundings, is most prominent in the mind? A cold, 

 pretentious marble monument or a tree that will lean lovingly o'er 

 the departed one, yielding protection and sweetly if vaguely hinting 

 consolation to the living? 



And in our dreams of the hereafter, can we not echo these senti- 

 ments ? — 



"Lord of the world to be. 



Build me no jasper palace. 



But the young leaf on the tree, 



And the vouns: bloom on the trellis !" 



