SHADE TREES. 239 



first dawns upon th? beauty of nature beneath their grateful 

 shade ; the more boisterous sports of childhood seek their 

 keenest enjoyment amid their expanded foliage ; and they 

 become the favorite trysling place when the feelings assume 

 a graver hue, and the sentiments of approaching manhood 

 usurp the place of unthinking frolic. Their memory in after 

 life greets the lonely wanderer amid his trials and vicisi- 

 tudes, inciting him to breast adversity till again welcomed 

 to their smiling presence. Their thousand associations 

 repress the unhallowed aspirations of ambition and vice ; 

 and when the last sun of decrepid age is sinking to its rest, 

 these venerable monitors solace the expiring soul with the 

 assurance, that a returning spring shall renew its existence 

 beyond the winter of the tomb. 



Trees ought not to stand too near the buildings, but occupy 

 such a position as to give beauty and finish to the landsape. 

 In addition to danger from lightning, blowing down, or the 

 breaking off of heavy branches, there is an excessive damp- 

 ness from their proximity which produces rapid decay in 

 such 'as are of wood, and which frequently affects the health 

 of the inmates. Low shrubbery that does not cluster too 

 thickly and immediately around the house, is not objectiona- 

 ble. Trees are ornamental to the streets and highways, but 

 should be at such a distance from the fences, as will prevent 

 injury to the crops and afford a grateful shade to the way- 

 farer. In certain sections of the middle and southern states, 

 where the soil is parched from the long sultry summers, it 

 has been found that shade trees rather increased than dimin- 

 ished the forage of the pastures, but through most of the 

 middle and northern states, they are decidedly disadvanta- 

 geous, as the feed is found to be sweeter and more abundant 

 beyond their reach. For this reason, such trees as are pre- 

 served exclusively for timber should be kept together in the 

 wood-lots, and even many that are designed for necessary 

 shade or ornament may be grouped in tasteful copses, with 

 greater economy of ground and manifest improvement to the 

 landscape. 



hi the selection of trees, regard should be had not only lo 

 the beauty of the tree and its fitness for shade-', but jto ils ulti- 

 mate value as limber and fuel. The elm when standing iso- 

 lated is one of our most graceful and imposing trees. It 

 grows to an immense size with gracefully projecting limbs 

 and long pendant branches. It is liable to few diseases, and 



