32 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
heat or cold. The variety at our command increases every sea- 
son, and since the Arnold Arboretum was established trees and 
plants come to us from every country of the temperate zone. 
But my farm is only a plain Massachusetts farm, where no 
attempt is made at the higher order of embellishment, but where 
more than a hundred different kinds of ornamental trees, and nearly 
if not quite a thousand individual trees have been planted to test 
their habits of growth and hardiness and improve the farm land- 
scape. Some of them have already contributed to the construction 
of farm buildings, while others have been made into household 
furniture, and a plenty yet remain of ample size and dimensions, 
suitable for any purpose for which wood or lumber is used. These 
trees have been planted with my own hands, have been nurtured 
under my care and supervision, and some of them will outlive 
generations of men, and remain prominent landmarks as time goes 
on. The farm is about six hundred feet above tide water. 
The better time to plant trees, either spring or autumn, is a 
question on which there is a wide difference of opinion. Having 
planted many trees at both seasons with good success, I have come 
to the conelusion that when elimatie and other conditions which 
should be duly considered by the planter are favorable, the autumn 
is a propitious season for planting either deciduous or coniferous 
trees, provided it is accomplished early, when the ground is warm, 
and root growth is thereby encouraged. For planting deciduous 
trees, early in October is the better time. 'T'he foliage should be 
removed; the leaves will then cease to draw upon the roots for 
nourishment, leaving them in condition to make new growth, which 
they readily do when the ground is warm, and sufliciently moist. 
Both heat and moisture are essential to promote root growth at 
any season. In the spring, conditions are changed ; the atmos- 
phere is warm and the ground is cold, and while the leaves will 
start the roots remain dormant, and cannot promptly supply the 
nourishment required by the top. 
Coniferous trees ınay be planted early in the month of September 
with advantage, provided the ground is kept moist to insure root 
growth. . When these conditions can be carried out, autumn plant- 
ing proves of decided advantage. If trees are to be transported 
long distances spring planting has some advantages. Even spring 
planting is facilitated by the holes being dug in the autumn ; the 
