Shade Trees. 



A little time devoted by every family to the culture of 

 shade trees and ornamental shrubbery, would add much to 

 the healthfulness and beauty of our city, and would have a 

 refining and elevating influence upon its people. 



Every tastefully arranged and nicely kept yard invites 

 every passer-by to a higher and better life, and is a joy to 

 the family forever. The growing children drink in its 

 beauty, and make it a part of themselves as surely and 

 naturally as they breathe their native air. Coarse, unlovely 

 children, brought up in the midst of lovely surroundings, 

 are impossible things. 



I wish to call attention to this subject, to urge its 

 importance and give some little information upon it. 



Before planting a tree in any given locality, the first 

 thing to determine is what tree will flourish there. A 

 healthy tree is usually handsome, but a sickly tree never is. 



As a rule, indigenous* trees are the most reliable. 

 Unfortunately our soil is such that but few of them will 

 grow. Experience and observation will add, year by year, 

 to our present knowledge, but if we had known twenty-five 

 years ago what we now know, or have the means of know- 

 ing, it would have saved us many thousand dollars that have 

 been wasted on trees that never will grow in this place. 



During the last thirty years several thousand dollars 

 have been expended on trees in the court house square 

 alone; and with a few exceptions it is now filled with 

 the silver-leaf poplar. Although they are better than n 



'Natives of the place or vicinity. 



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