A FEW GOOD TREES 87 



six feet or so with six inches of coarse litter, and 

 leave it until late in the Spring. When this is re- 

 moved mulch with fine, well-rotted manure, which 

 may with advantage be renewed from time to time 

 during the Summer. It will not be necessary to 

 cut back the tops, but the dead wood should be 

 well cleaned out and the ends of the longer lower 

 branches pruned for eighteen inches or so. Too 

 much cannot be said in favour of the Oak trees 

 which possess so many sterling qualities; beauty, 

 dignity, distinguished appearance, fine colouring, 

 extreme picturesqueness. They are satisfactory 

 to look upon every season of the year. 



The Elm is the most graceful of all our native 

 trees. Who is not familiar with the wineglass 

 Elms of New England that so lightly o'erarch the 

 village streets and greens? It is quite a rapid 

 grower and reaches a graceful form at an early 

 age. It is one of the most desirable trees for a 

 small place, but it is so susceptible to the ravages 

 of the moths that one plants it with many mis- 

 givings. One is loth to give up this tree which is 

 so identified with the history and literature of the 

 country, which is so typical of the New England 



