110 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



my gratification I found the grounds in front were tastily and beauti- 

 fully arranged with beds of flowers and their appearance indicated 

 good care. Upon expressing great pleasure at this beautiful and 

 unexpected sight, my friend said that it all happened through the 

 influence of the Horticultural Society. Now who can tell what 

 happy influence these flowers had on the minds of the children who 

 daily met there in the pursuit of knowledge, and with the youth is 

 the place to commence all reforms and ingraft new ideas. I know 

 some people will do just as their fathers did, and think that well 

 enough ; and if the old school-house that stood on the plains without 

 a tree to shade it, or hardly a spear of grass growing anywhere near, 

 was good enough tor them, it is for us and our children. Well, I do 

 nof, and I have no idea you do. 



But for a moment go back to that school garden with me again. 

 I see it, the building painted and clean, the lovely trees clad in the 

 most beautiful foliage, the flowers bright and almost bidding you 

 welcome, the grass neatly cut, the walks clean, and not a weed to be 

 seen. I contrast it with some I knew then and could find now, 

 which in winter were fit only for skating ponds, in the spring mud 

 holes, and in summer weeds and dust had entire possession, and not 

 a tree anywhere near. Now I am sure if you could have witnessed 

 these two school grounds which I have tried to make you imagine 

 that you have, you would all join with me in a grand chorus when I 

 said: "God bless the Newton Horticultural Society." 1 appeal to 

 you if you have not a duty in this direction. Anyway, do all you 

 can and you will be surprised how much that is. I hope we may 

 see the day in the very near future when all our school-houses can 

 boast of their lovely school gardens and grounds ; and not only the 

 schools but why not the grounds around all our public buildings, 

 (and I mean the churches as well) receive such care and attention 

 by judicious planting so as to present an attraction to citizen and 

 fctranger alike. 



The trees adapted for shade in our streets are few, the American 

 and English elms are favorites, and when protected from the canker 

 worm, which is the only objection, are the best adapted of the elms 

 to this purpose, unless it be the Huntington elm, which is a strong 

 grown European varietj', and as I have watched its growth in the 

 Newton cemetery I have been favorably impressed with it ; certainly 

 there is no better tree for our broad avenues. Maples, sugar or 

 rock, are of vigorous growth, form more or less pyramidal and ele- 



