i6th February, A. D. 1893. 



ESSAY 



BY 



FRANCIS H. APPLETON, of Peabodt. 



Tlieme: — " The Embellishment of Grounds with Trees and Shrubs." 



Most of the ladies and gentlemen who listen to my brief words 

 to-day have probably long since made up their minds as to how their 

 own grounds should be laid out, and have them already well embel- 

 lished with trees and shrubs as well as flowers and climbing plants. 

 There are, however, other people who may, through your Transac- 

 tions, be glad to learn methods of planning and planting their 

 grounds, and how to secure or raise their own trees, shrubs, and 

 vines. And while all steadily strive to help the loyal members who 

 attend meetings and otherwise aid in doing the active work of plan- 

 ning and executing for our Society, it is the non-attendants and non- 

 members who most need to be interested and instructed in the line of 

 horticultural taste. 



With this view I desire to direct attention to the fact that your 

 Transactions can be made practically useful towards promoting an 

 increase in the number of embellished homes in Massachusetts ; aud, 

 even if such increase cannot always be in the form that might be 

 recommended as best by those most capable of judging, nevertheless 

 any advance in this direction will be a stepping-stone to a more gen- 

 eral introduction of the best methods, eventually. 



Would that more of those living in suburban homes, in villages 

 arid on farms, could be persuaded that there is actual value, as well 

 as pleasure, to be gained through the embellishment and protection 

 of their home grounds by a common-sense planting with trees and 

 shrubs, and 1 will add, vines. 



Some people have not the taste and inclination, while others have, 

 perhaps, not had their attention sufficiently awakened to realize fully 

 the benefits of the course proposed, aud to know how easily such 



