94 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Libert J' tree, or the Great Elm on the Common, or the grand tree 

 at Cambridge under which Washington took command of the 

 American army ; or the Treaty Elm of William Penn ; the Charter 

 Oak at Hartford ; the Apple tree of the Appomattox ! 



How the thousands of birds that once filled the air with their 

 melodious songs have left us, and instead have come countless 

 myriads of noxious insects, that seem likely to devour every 

 green thing. The destruction of our forests is the destruction of 

 our birds ; the destruction of our birds the destruction of our 

 gardens and fruit. 



In these remarks I have sought to avoid repeating the usual 

 and far more important reasons for the promotion of forestry, and 

 shall be glad if I have made the slightest new contribution in aid 

 of this important work, upon whose successful prosecution our 

 national prosperity depends. 



The time is near when, as in Germany, there will be connected 

 with all our school grounds, cultivated portions, in which can be 

 found flowers in bloom, from the early snowdrop to the late 

 blooming chrysanthemum ; and typical specimens of our finest 

 native trees and shrubs, and small beds of broken ground where 

 seeds can be sown from which children may see the myster}^ of 

 germination and plant development. These will serve the double 

 purpose of beautifying the premises, and affording aid in practical 

 instruction in natural science. It would also be wise to associate 

 these trees with interesting events and the names of great and 

 good men, as a just and beautiful expression of love and honor^ 

 and an incentive to rouse the rising generations to noble and 

 beneficent lives. Especially should we plant and preserve trees in 

 the great centres of population " where wealth accumulates and 

 men decay," — those great maelstroms that more and more suck into 

 their terrible vortices our rural population, where the unfortunate 

 little ones are instructed by almost universal example, that the 

 chief end of man is to get money, and what luxury, vice, and 

 fashion it can command, — and not to " get understanding." 



Religion, philanthropy, patriotism, gratitude to our progenitors^ 

 justice to our posterity, self interest, science, and wise foresight, 

 all demand that we shall train up the young to love, plant, nurture 

 and revere trees. 



The beneficent Father who adorns the lilies and numbers the 

 very hairs of our heads, has given trees and flowers for our good^ 



