230 ANNUAL REPORT. 



lect, arrange and train shade trees, whether in pubUc parks, along the sides of 

 streets and avenues, or in private grounds, so that the most charming effects will 

 be produced; and as no one probably now-a-days will deny that the contemplatiOD 

 of beauty tends to refinement and moral elevation, it will be generally admitted 

 no doubt, that the results of such are as likely to prove compensatory to the commu- 

 nity, as those arising from devotion to music, painting or any other branch of the 

 fine arts. That the subject is eminently worthy the attention and fostering patron- 

 age of this association, will not, I hope, be disputed. It should not be limited to 

 trees either, but so extended as to include all kinds of ornamental shrubbery, not 

 omitting regard for the effects produced l)y the various colored blossoms and 

 fiowers. 



Nature, we are told, affords innumerable practical lessons touching every depart- 

 ment of this subject, and is a reliable and proficient teacher. This is true, if 

 nature shall be sagaciously interpreted, but who trusts to nature alone for instruc- 

 tion will find himself ultimately in possession only of a mass of crude ideas, which 

 he can hai-dly render available for any use. It would be scarcely more blameworthy 

 to depend solely upon nature for revealing the wonders of the science of astronomy 

 or opening to our comprehension the deepl}' hidden facts of geology. To educate 

 ourselves thoroughly and successfully in any science, simple or intricate, we must 

 become acquainted with the thoughts and opinions of our fellow-men respecting it, 

 must learn the results of their obs'^rvations and experiences; otherwise we are 

 likely to grope in darkness and ignorance from infancy to old" age and leave the 

 world no better by our having occupied a place in it. Moreover, b\" availing oftr-' 

 selves of all the opportunities afforded for acquiring information, we shall become 

 better able to realize and enjoy the salutary influence of the beautiful on our own 

 lives, and live the happier and die the more blessed for the knowledge we have 

 gained through toil that yielded us joy even in its performance. 



The following paper was then read : 



LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



Cyrus L. Smith, Minneapolis. 



Fifty years ago the art of Rural Adornment was comparitively unknown in 

 America; to-day we boast of many magnificent parks, while public buildings 

 throughout the entire country are surrounded with gardens and grounds rich in 

 treasures of tree, plant and flower. Fifty years ago whatever we had of rural 

 adornment was an imitation of the English or geometric style; to-day we have a 

 ystem of landscape agriculture that is distinctiveh^ American. Imperceptably the 

 spirit of this system has influenced the work of those engaged in rural improve- 

 ment until to-day we can hardly find a trace of the old system. More than ithat^ 

 the American idea of landscape architecture, or rural adornment has crossed the 

 Atlantic, and like other American ideas, is supplanting tho.se of England, France 

 and Germany. The credit for this is due largely to A. J. Downing, who might 

 appropriately be styled the founder and apostle of American landscape gardening. 

 — a man of rare good taste, a finished scholar and ready writer of enthusiastic nature: 

 thoroughly in love with his profession, he was peculiarly fitted for his great work; 

 he has, however, had many willing, enthusiastic and able diciples, whose labors. 



