16S ANNUAL REPORT 



planting them and caring for them properly, they may look for satis- 

 factory results; but not otherwise. 



In order to secure success in planting it is necessary to know the 

 habits and requirements of the variety selected, and be sure that the 

 conditions of soil and position are adapted to its wants. A tree taken 

 from the woods is sure to suffer from being transplanted to a position 

 where it is fully exposed to the influence of the sun and wind. 



Some trees thrive best in rich, deep, loamy and even very moist soil, 

 — others require perfect drainage, and some thrive best even in a 

 sandy soil, and success in planting depends very largely upon the 

 careful observance ot these natural wants. 



" Now I have known here in Minneapolis, of trees furnished by con- 

 tract for street planting on these arid plains, to be taken from the 

 rich alluvial soil of low lands where they were growing thickly to- 

 gether, and where, having never been transplanted,ithey had only long 

 spreading roots which were roughly cat off with a spade at four or 

 five inches from the trunk, and then jammed into holes barely large 

 enough to contain them, and the sand which had been taken from the 

 hole shoveled back and tramped around them, and the trees expected 

 to live. 



I take it for granted that the audience whom I have the honor of 

 addressing here, is largely composed of men who appreciate the truth 

 of these statements and require no argument for their enforcement. 



The question of reform is one that commends itself to your consid- 

 eration, and is one that I confess my inability to solve. It would 

 seem that the first step would be to enlighten those who are interested 

 and enlist popular feeling in a cause which so nearly concerns our 

 daily and hourly comfort as the beauty of our streets and graceful, 

 homelike aspect of our dwellings and their surroundings. But I have 

 been assured that an audience could not be got together to listen to a 

 lecture on such a subject, while there is no hall large enough to hold 

 the crowds that will gather to see two brutes pummel each other in 

 the prize ring. 



What twaddle it seems, to talk of a love of the beauty of nature, 

 and a prevailing rural taste in the face of such facts ! I feel this even- 

 ing that I have listeners who are actively interested in the subject, — 

 but outside of those who are in some way connected with the business 

 there is lamentable defficiency. 



VARIETIES. 



My experience in Minnesota has been too short'to enable me to speak 



