STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 145 



he scratched the leaves so vehemently that they have been in conse- 

 quence jagged ever since. 



Chairman. These are good words for the Oak family. We will 

 next listen to some music from the little birds — our very dear friends. 



Chairman. We shall next hear from the Maples, one of our 

 largest families. 



Sugar Maple. I am a favorite ornamental tree. Poets of all 

 ages have sung about the oak. I am no sweet singer of Maine, but 

 I am possessed of sweetness. I claim to have made more boys and 

 girls happy than any other tree. I have many changes in dress — 

 wearing in spring the softest shade of every color, in summer the 

 purest emerald, and in the autumn the most brilliant yellow. My 

 wood is used for furniture, floors, and for finishing the interior of 

 houses, and after the houses are finished few can warm them better 

 than I. 



Red Maple. I am often called Soft Maple, a name also applied 

 to one of my sisters. I beautify the country in spring with early red 

 blossoms, and in autumn my leaves are streaked with scarlet. 



Silver Maple. My sister, Red Maple and myself are both called 

 Soft Maple. I make a very rapid growth and am found by the side 

 of streams. I am often planted as a shade tree, and in the far West 

 many are planted for shelter-belts and for timber. 



Bass Wood. I am a fine shade tree, my home a moist rich soil. 

 My fragrant flowers furnish a great amount of excellent honey for 

 the bees at a time when most other flowers have disappeared. My 

 timber is soft, light and tough, and not apt to split, good for ©abinet 

 work, boxes, finishing, etc. 



The Chairman. We will sing. 



"LOVELY MAY." 



Lovely May, lovely May, 

 Decks the world with blossoms gay ; 

 ''Come ye all, come ye all," 

 Thus the flowers call. 

 Sparkles now the sunny dale. 

 Fragrant is the flowry vale ; 

 Song of bird, song of bird, 

 In the grove is heard. 



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