72 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



would be a sufficient inducement to reward any one for the 

 time expended in studying them. 



For the purpose of aiding a class which met last spring 

 at the rooms of the Peabody Academy of Science for botan- 

 ical study, a list of trees and tree-like shrubs was prepared, 

 including such species, native and introduced, of which 

 good growing specimens could be seen in the immediate 

 vicinity of Salem, and to show how few species it was 

 necessary to know in order to become familiar with the trees 

 in one's neighborhood. 



This list included but 113 species, of which 64 were 

 natives of eastern Massachusetts, 17 were introduced from 

 other portions of the United States, and 32 came from for- 

 eign countries. 



If to this list a dozen less common trees be added, making 

 the total number 125, it will cover all the species that are 

 required to be known in order to name, at sight, every tree 

 met with in our walks in the woods, along country roads or 

 in the city streets and parks of this State, outside of a botan- 

 ical garden or the collection of some enthusiastic arbori- 

 culturist. It does not seem, therefore, that the task of 

 becoming acquainted with them presents great difficulties or 

 is likely to exhaust much time to master it. 



Classes or clubs for the study of native trees and so much 

 of structural botany as might be applicable to them, or the 

 introduction of such study into clubs and classes already 

 formed, would be the means of bringing a knowledge of 

 these matters to our young people in a very pleasant way. 

 It would at the same time offer a rational excuse for social 

 meetings in many places where public exhibitions and lec- 

 tures are infrequent. 



There is, without doubt, in every town, some one suffi- 

 ciently familiar with the sul)ject to act as a leader for a class 

 in tree study ; and a small assessment in a class of twenty 

 persons would purchase all the available books required for 

 reference. Of course, it would be desirable that as much of 

 the work as possible should be done during the summer 

 months ; but as it would probably be more convenient to 

 meet on winter evenings, specimens could be collected the 

 previous summer for winter use. 



