108 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Considering that this lad}' has only a few hot-beds and a bay 

 window in which to raise the plants that filled these beds, we think 

 that no one need to despair of having a pleasant and attractive flower 

 garden. Since bedding plants can be obtained at a very low figure, 

 there has been a tendency of late to undervalue annuals ; but here 

 we certainly have a very pleasing example of their effective use. We 

 are informed that, aside from the small sum paid for seeds, and ten 

 dollars paid for extra labor, all the work was done by members of 

 the household ; and it was a great pleasure to report that this flower 

 garden was the most neath^ kept, tastefully- arranged, and econom- 

 ically managed of the kind that we had been called upon to visit. 



The Maine Pomological Society is a progressive society, made up 

 from progressive people, and carrying on great industries ; and will 

 you let the beautiful art of horticulture fall behind, and not keep 

 pace with the people ? I hope not ; and that you will meet with a 

 hearty, generous co-operation from the people who are always ready 

 to respond to ever}' good word and work, there is little doubt. The 

 embellishment of our homes and the grounds surrounding them is a 

 subject that can never be oflT the mind of any one that has a home ; 

 but we must acknowledge, and regretfully, too, that the tastes of 

 the majority of the people for the embellishment of their homes is 

 not as strong as we wish it was, but it is growing. I know that the 

 supply of more needed wants, and the gratification of more pressing 

 tastes, will take precedence to the planting of trees, and the orna- 

 mentation of the grounds is put ofl^ to a more convenient season. I 

 would rather plant my trees and fix my grounds as soon as my house 

 is finished, than to furnish the parlor first, and fix the grounds last. 

 What say you as to the value of trees ? I think in the past, to a great 

 extent, at least, false opinions have prevailed that trees do not add 

 much to the value of an estate, if we may judge from the ruthless 

 manner in which they have been cut down in many of our cities. 

 Indeed, too little regard is paid to them in the thriving city of Lynn, 

 where I lived for fourteen years. It seemed to be a sort of understood 

 law that if any one wanted a tree down, it was about sure to come ; 

 and sure enough, it generally did, and it was not by any means an 

 uncommon thing to see the best of trees in that city mutilated by 

 fastening horses to them. And to facilitate this barbarous treat- 

 ment, chains were actually driven in them, inviting them to the 

 abuse. These things, with the additional fact that so many houses 



