828 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
feet in depth, and filled to within two feet of the surface with good, 
rich loam, leaving a mound in the center on which to set the roots. 
The roots of the tree should slope downward rather than with the 
ends higher than at the point where they leave the tree, as I have 
often seen them. They should be smoothly trimmed with a sharp 
knife, where the ends have been broken off in digging, and protected 
from the sun and wind by damp straw, or covered with loose earth 
until planted. The tree should be held in place at the depth at 
which it grew, and the roots spread as evenly as possible in the hole. 
Then good, rich loam should be carefully and firmly worked among 
them until they are covered. The hole, after being filled, should be 
covered with heavy mulching. 
The trunks of all trees with smooth bark should be protected 
from the rays of the sun; in fact, all trees recently transplanted do 
better if protected. Straw rope, wound around the tree, is the best 
protection, but the wooden guard is much better than nothing. All 
trees planted on the street should be protected »y the guard to save 
them from injury by the teeth of biting animals. The guards 
used by the park board are very inexpensive and are worth 
ten times their cost. When the tree begins to grow, it should be very 
carefully watched, and, if the season is dry,it should be watered. 
Do not sprinkle a little water over the surface of the ground every 
day—that brings the fine roots to the surface, where they will soon 
dry up—but give them a thorough soaking once in two weeks. By 
observing these rules, the work done on Arbor Day will bring last- 
ing satisfaction to the tree planters while living, and blessings 
upon their heads by the generations who follow them. 
I thank you very much for your attention. I hope we shall meet 
each other in the parks and on the parkways for many years to come, 
and that when the reins of government pass into your hands that 
you will continue the work of beautifying our city, and that you will 
make it so attractive that none who see it will ever wish to leave it. 
Every one admits the importance of out-of-door exercise in promot- 
ing and preserving health, and you who have had the advantages 
of the healthful recreation of rowing or skating on the lakes of our 
parks, will be better able to testify to their advantages than are a 
majority of our older citizens. 
All of the larger cities of the civilized world are providing play- 
grounds for the children, where they can have all kinds of games 
and gymnastic exercises, deeming them essential to their comfort, 
pleasure and physical and moral development, and I urge you to 
use yourinfluence in securing them for ourcity. Keep this in mind, 
If the result cannot be accomplished before you cast your votes, let 
your first vote be in favor of it, 
Demand bathing houses on the river banks. Ask your parents to 
go picnicking with you and take the younger children. Load up 
the delivery and express wagons and drive to the woods, learn the 
names of the different varieties of trees, study their habits and their 
wonderful architecture, and you will agree with the poet who sang: 
*“Summier or winter, day or night, 
The woods are ever a new delight; 
They give us health, and they make us strong, 
Such wonderful balm to them belong.” 
