434 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



life. Onl}' think of an arrangement like this in the infinitely wise 

 economies of nature! The vegetable and the animal — the one mu- 

 tually dependent upon the other, the lower form living for the high- 

 er, and neither of them living for itself. We have thought that a 

 small but wild plantation of trees as a coppice on the lower end of 

 each town and village lot would be the best advice that could be 

 given by our boards of health. How much efifete and decajang veg- 

 etable matter is recklessly thrown out in the back j'ards of all our 

 town lots and left to decay and poison the atmosphere we are hourly 

 breathing for our life ! Its deadly intluences are sometimes felt by 

 us and the dear ones of our family circle, when attacked with the 

 varied forms of acute inflammations or with typhoid fever, or 

 the more dreadful diphtheria. 



A coppice of wild trees, interlaced with vines and creepers, 

 just at the lower end of the lot, would be a calm retreat from the 

 scorching heat, and a reservoir to utilize all the poisons and pesti- 

 lences of the atmosphere. How simple the remedy, and yet we are 

 paying the debt of our negligence of the species of nature. Blocks 

 of trees oJi the farm would answer precisely the same purposes, and 

 be an everlasting- fvxnd of satisfaction and pure enjoyiuent. Farm- 

 ers, let us plant trees for healthfulness for ourselves and for our 

 families; for what are all the wealth of our coffers of gold compar- 

 ed with the unspeakable blessings of health? 



MODIFICATION OF TEMPERATURE. 



Fifth — It is very generally admitted that trees have the power of 

 absorbing- ^ind storing up latent heat, and again giving- it out in 

 times of extreme cold. If this is so, and we fully believe it is, how 

 tine is the modifying intluences that may be exerted on our climate 

 in its depressing tnoods? Again, it is believed that the tree has the 

 power of absorption of moisture, and in a time of severe drought 

 again giving it out liberally through its trunk and its branches and 

 leaves in the suminer time. This influence ascribed to the tree has 

 the effect of cooling and moistening our dry atmosphere during the 

 heated term. This view j^resents the tree as an enormous labora- 

 tory, utilixing- heat and dispensing coolness and moisture to correct 

 the extremes of our seasons. By the simple means of their agency 

 the extremes of temperature endured in every treeless region may 

 be corrected. But, further, we have sometimes thought, wliile sit- 

 ting under our spreading trees in the intense heat of summer, that 

 there was always a cooling breeze there, and, consequently, that they 

 were attractive to coolness and breeze. Have you not many times 

 be<en struck with the same idea? 



If we had the space at our command, we would like much to en- 

 large here on the subject of windbreaks and storm-stayers, etc., in 

 relation to trees. We are more than certain that the agency of trees 

 is the mostefficient and effectual wind-breaker that can be adopted. 

 We are almost as certain that the same gentle intluences may be 

 credited with the cooling and refreshing moisture of many a sum- 

 mer sliower that visits our plantations. When shall we arrive at a 

 correct understanding of the great laws of nature, and the governing 



