Scats are arranged around the tree, near the joyed its shade, the thermometer indicating the 

 trunk, where is a most delightful retreat, espe- heat as near 90°. The tree is said to have been 

 cially in such a day as was iliat when we en- j planted 60 years ago." 



• THE CLERGY, 



THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AND POWER TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC TASTE FOR AGRICULTURE 

 AND HORTICULTURE LETTER FROM REV. J. O. CHOULES. 



Jamaica Plain, August, 1845. 



My Dear Sir—1 have for several days past 

 been trying to get time to tell you how very 

 much I have been gratified with your capital 

 No. 1 of the Farmers' Library, &c. The con- 

 ception of the work is precisely (I tliink) what 

 it should be, and the execution of the Magazine 

 very satisfactory. I entertain no doubt respect- 

 ing its success. I wish it could find its way in- 

 to the hands of our Clergy ; they are of all men 

 possessed of the best opportunities to improve 

 the taste and science of the farmers of our land. 

 Had I the time, I would gladly write an article 

 for your pages, pointing out the claims of Agri- 

 culture and Horticulture on the Ministry. I 

 know some of my brethren who feel this subject 

 in all its magnitude ; they aim to diffuse con-eet 

 opinions, cultivate good taste, make men hap- 

 pier, and places prettier, because they have 

 lived in the region ; and verily they have theii; 

 reward. For my own pai-t, I would rather get 

 the population of a village all out to plant trees, 

 and beautify the walks and avenues of tlic ham- 

 let, than convene them to argue upon abstract 

 notions of no possible practical utility. We may 

 learn a great deal tliat is good from the exam- 

 ple of men who went before us. If we di.slike 

 the faith, at all events we may admire the taste, 

 of the Churchmen of other days, whose abbeys 

 and cloisters all testify to a sound taste, and 

 whose noble avenues and orchards proclaim 

 good husbandry. 



I wish I could set hundreds of men planting 

 trees who seem to delight in worse labors. I 

 do love trees, and I love the men who planted 

 the Elms of New-Haven, Newark, and tho.se of 

 the sweet village I live in. \NTiy does not 

 every man plant crut a tree — many trees? In 

 Providence there are some noble Elms which I 

 saw planted only twenty years ago ! A man 

 may see the result of his labors, and his children 

 would be proud to point out the trees, " the old 

 ancestral trees," of his forefather's planting. — 

 Men may rail at the world as much as they 

 please, but it is a beaidiful one, and if we are 

 only cheerful and active in it, it will become yet 

 more beautiful. Nearly all the beauty of a resi- 

 dence, a village, a country town, arises from its 

 trees ; and not only should every man carefully 

 (312! 



adorn his own habitat, but men should club to- 

 gether to beautify their vicinage. The strong 

 attachment felt by men in England to home- 

 steads arises in no small degree from the pains 

 which have been taken to adorn and enrich 

 them by a previous generation. 



Perhaps my mind has taken this turn fi-om 

 having just been engaged in a cursoiy perusal 

 of the proof sheets of Mr. D. J. Bro^^^le's charm- 

 ing ^vork on the Trees of America, no^v in the 

 press, and to be published this winter by one of 

 your most extensive houses. This is really a 

 national work, and its author deserves well of 

 his country. 



Each tree is considered principally with refer- 

 ence to its geography and history, soil and situ- 

 ation — its propagation and culture, accidents and 

 diseases, properties and uses — its use in the arte 

 and commerce, and its application to ornament. 



The work, as far as I have seen it, more than 

 equals my expectations, both in its literal^ and 

 scientific merits. The audiov has devoted many 

 years to the subject, and has avaUed himself of 

 the opportunity to travel extensively in the 

 United States, as well as in various other coun- 

 trie.s. It is very evident that ancient and mod- 

 em works have been rendered subsidiary to the 

 object. The book is not confined to the forest 

 trees of America, but treats of the important 

 fruit and ornamental trees, and these are scien- 

 tifically and popularly described. 



The undertaking, I imagine, cannot fail to be 

 useful and attractive. It will be especially wel- 

 come to those who are engaged in commerce, 

 in the construction of ships, public works, or in 

 the mechanic arts where wood is employed.- 

 The N^'hole work is interspersed with numerous 

 historical facts, important to be kno\^^l, and with 

 many legendary allusions that will prove inter- 

 esting to the general reader. 



I have been very successful this season in 

 raising a large stock of poultn.', and I am almost 

 tempted to say my say about chickens. Per- 

 haps I may another time. 



■Wishing you all success in your important 

 undertaking, 



I am, dear sir, yours, very faithfully, 



JNO. O. CHOULES. 



To J. S. Skinneb, F.Hq. 



