THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



89 



pending upon it. It has reference 

 to the pure animal or physical enjoy- 

 ment growing out of the duty and 

 following the practice of tree plant- 

 ing, and may be considered in its effects 

 aside from its money value. In plant- 

 ing trees we are regaled, invigorated 

 and satisfied by their fruits, we are pro- 

 tected, warmed and comforted by their 

 timber, or we are instructed, pleased and 

 delighted by their nobility, grandeur 

 and beauty. This argument is very 

 extensive in its import, most readily 

 appreciated and very forcible in its 

 chumcter. The third or moral argu- 

 ment is the product of the two former 

 ones and their consummation. It has 

 reference to the effect on the character 

 of a people thus enriched and ennobled 

 by their wealth of profitable and beauti- 

 ful trees. To say that tree planting 

 has no moral side to it, nor can have, 

 is to run contrary to our experience, 

 and is bordering on the absurd. It 

 has ! The people who are so abundantly 

 eniiched, both pecuniarily and physi- 

 cally, by an abundance of fruitful and 

 profitable trees are capable of higher 

 developments of moral character than 

 the people who have not these advan- 

 tages. Their trees have the effect upon 

 them of supplying their needs and of - 

 inspiring their hearts with gratitude. 

 Not the gratitude merely of the un- 

 tutored Indian who roams in nature's 

 boundless forests, unconscious of the 

 true character of the benefits surround- 

 ing him, but rather the gratitude of 

 reflection, of enlightenment and of a 

 hightened devotion. As we have already 

 hinted, we must now very briefly glance 

 at the nature of the encoui*agements 

 looked for in this particular. This may 

 be best stated in the following order : 

 1st. Government premiums should be 

 offered for the most extensive, best kept 

 and best bearing orchards in different 

 part« of the country, and to be decided 

 by a Government appointed visiting 

 2 



committee. These premiums may be 

 in cash, or they may be in diplomas, 

 or in both, as the end and object is 

 best furthered. And the effect would 

 be very influential and marked on the 

 destinies of the country. The princi- 

 pal influence may be ascribed to com- 

 petition, which is a most powerful 

 motor in human affairs. 2nd. A com- 

 mutation of taxes or statute labor should 

 be granted from time to time for trees 

 planted by the roadside, to be deter- 

 mined according to the number and 

 value of the trees planted, and properly 

 cared for, by an officer appointed for the 

 purpose. The influence of this kind 

 of tree planting is very marked in the 

 annals of a country, and even the 

 traveller will tarry to bless his country 

 for this generous and rich provision of 

 his nature. On account of the difficulty 

 and danger of this sort of tree planting 

 it needs and should get special protec- 

 tion for its successful issue. 3rd. To 

 encourage forest tree planting on a large 

 scale over the country, assurance of 

 special favors and rewards should be 

 publicly made known. These may con- 

 sist of commutation of all taxes for 

 more or less years, according to the 

 extent, variety and perfection of the 

 plantation, to be determined as before 

 by a visiting committee. Further 

 special premiums should be offered at 

 stated periods to the owners of most 

 approved forest ti*acts, to be deter- 

 mined by efficient judges appointed for 

 the purpose. The influence of this 

 kind of tree planting on a country is so 

 great and so lasting and widespread 

 that we lay special stress upon it. 

 Moreover the expenses, difficulties, 

 hinderances and discouragements are so 

 constant and so form idablei that special 

 inducements and helps must be sup- 

 plied by the State, even at some^ sacri- 

 fice, in order to accomplish telling re- 

 sults. By these or similar means many 

 tracts of fine, thrifty forestry would. 



