52 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1896. 



ceptibility to the attack of the borer ; the Poplars and White or Eed 

 Maples, their liability to injury or wreckage by ice storms. 



The Red or Slippery Elm, if discovered by travelling man or boy, 

 will not escape the robbing of its bark, and the Chestnut and Walnut 

 become the victims of severe clubbing and injury to their trunks by 

 pounding without mercy to induce a few stray nuts to leave their snug 

 quarters before being ordered out by the autumnal frosts. 



For varieties to form new lines on the roadside I should name the 

 Rock or Sugar Maple, Norway Maple, taking care to thin the branches 

 of this variety as the tree advances iu years, so as to avoid too dense 

 a head. The American White Ash will thrive in some instances where 

 the Maples do not succeed. The American P^lm may be used where 

 the roads are seventy-five or more feet in width, but never on our nar- 

 row thoroughfares. Although the old saying holds good that "he who 

 plants an oak plants for posterity," I believe the White Oak should be 

 encouraged for this roadside planting, and also the American White 

 Beech, two noble and stately trees that future generations would value 

 most highly, even though we ourselves are not permitted to see the 

 fruit of our labors. 



There is little further to be said on the subject of roadside improve- 

 ments. Our object lesson is but to contrast the long stretches of im- 

 proved roadsides found in many New P^nglaud towns and villages, and 

 the unimproved portions, so largely in the ascendancy, and which it 

 may be hoped by agitation, cooperation, and some personal self-sac- 

 rifice, may sooner or later give way to the permanent improvement of 

 our roadsides that shall reflect credit upon the workmen in the years 

 that are to come. 



I am not unmindful of the fact that the expense incurred in these 

 proposed improvements will be maintained by many as being beyond 

 their ability to meet. If this was to be the work of but a single season 

 it might involve an expense that should not be incurred in justice to 

 the other needy ex})enditures in the farm management. But this is 

 not our intention in advocating these improvements. Our first sugges- 

 tion is to map out a definite plan of the grounds in accordance with 

 such suggestions as have been offered, and then each year devote 

 some time and money to its accomplishment. There are many days 

 in the course of a year that the farm help, and a team if necessary, can 

 be spared for this work without any detriment to the other interests of 

 the farm. 



If one takes a review at the close of eacli year, of the permanent 

 improvement he has made on his farm lands by reclaiming unimproved 



