1900.] ESSAYS. 51 



begin with individual effort. Try, however simply, to right the 

 wrong, and growth will follow. If such a man as Hon. B. G. 

 Northrup can change the aspect of some parts of Connecticut by 

 his well planned efforts, how much more can KiO, 000 club women 

 do in their respective States ? Twenty-five per cent, of our States 

 should be covered by forests. How man}' of us know how much 

 of our own State is covered. If our Washington Elm during 

 every fair day in the growing season gives out 7f tons of moist- 

 ure to the air, let us not be discouraged if we cannot plant a 

 forest, plant one tree. 



France has planted, and is planting, all of her 19,000 miles of 

 public roads with wayside trees. Our City of Rochester has 

 freed its trees from tent caterpillars by aid of the children ; the 

 sum spent was small, the public sentiment aroused great. Have 

 we no caterpillars in our town? It is a marvel that in any city 

 where a Forestry Association, Horticultural Society, or service 

 club thrives, that they do not first work to rescue the trees from 

 destruction and death. The cost is so small ; the return in health, 

 comfort and beauty, beyond compare. Why do we, who love 

 nature, spend our time and strength on work that can wait, 

 while our trees, which money cannot buy, and only generations 

 of time can replace, slowly succumb to the ravages of horses and 

 electric wires. 



The fact that this is true, is my excuse for giving before this 

 Society the story in detail of how a few women sought to remedy 

 the evil. 



To those who do not realize that from Arbor Day celebrations 

 Vilhige Improvement Societies have arisen, as did Arbor Day 

 itself from the efforts of one man, to the Club Women of the 

 city to whom practical tree planting seems a difficult undertaking, 

 this story of a postal card, from its small beginning to its happy 

 ending, may serve as encouragement. 



In one of our large cities a woman's club was formed in the 

 spirit of helpfulness and work. The question arose as to what 

 practical work should be done, and the members were asked to 

 write on a postal the subject which they would like to have the 

 club study. Among the many suggestions was one, " The pre- 



