STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 147 



Chairman. Now let us hear from White Elm. 



White Elm. I have beeu called queen of the forest, and stand 

 without a rival at the head of the list of ornamental deciduous leaved 

 trees. I claim this rank on account of hardiness, rapid growth, and 

 the graceful and majestic beautj' of m}^ drooping branches. We are 

 very proud of our Massachusetts relative under whose venerable 

 shade Washington first took command of the Continental army, July 

 3, 1775. How the affection of every lover of his countrj^ clings 

 around that tree ! What care has been taken of it, what marks of 

 esteem have been shown it by the citizens of Cambridge, may be 

 judged by those who have seen it standing, as it does, in the centre 

 of a great public thoroughfare, its trunk protected by an iron fence 

 from injury by passing vehicles, which lor more than a century have 

 turned out in deference to this monarch of the Revolution. 



Chairman. Let us all repeat the lines of N. S. Dodge in praise 

 of the queen of the forest. 



"Then hail to the Elm ! the green-topped Elm, 



And long may his branches wave, 

 For a relic is he, the gnarled old tree, 



Of the times of the good and brave — " 



Chairman. Let us hear from White Pine now. 



White Pine. I am one of the tallest and largest trees in Maine, or 

 rather I was in the past. The lumbermen have cut down the larger 

 part of the old pine trees, but the State of Maine is called the "Pine 

 Tree State" in honor of my importance in the past. In Europe, 

 where some of my number have been introduced, they often call 

 me Weymouth Pine. My leaves are long, light green and in clus- 

 ters of five. As a long-lived and beautiful tree for ornamenting 

 rural grounds and parks, I take a high rank, while an immense 

 amount of valuable lumber is cut from my wood. 



Chairman. We have another cone-bearing tree in attendance. I 

 call on Hemlock. 



Hemlock. I have been called by students in art and botany and 

 horticulture "the most beautiful coniferous hardy tree yet known." 

 I grow to a good height and acquire a large size. My evergreen 

 leaves have delicate tints, my young branches droop gracefully. As 

 a timber tree I do not claim the highest honor. My bark is valu- 

 able for tanning leather. 



Chairman. Black Spruce is a sister, and we must listen to her. 



Black Spruce. I abound in the forests of Maine. The boys and 

 girls have always searched my trunk for gum, but not all the gum 



