42 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



This gjreat variety may be accounted for b}" reference to the 

 marked diirerences in the soils, features of surface (including ele- 

 vation), and exposures of different localities. 



From such an abundance, then, the tree planter may take his 

 choice. He can find some tree in the list to produce almost any 

 effect of sylvan growth that he may desire. He can find trees 

 adapted to any locality, from a rocky hill-top to a bog; to any 

 texture of soil, from shifting sands to the stiffest cla}'. A few of 

 these trees are already approved favorites, among them the Maples. 



The Rock or Sut^ar maple, Acer saccharinum, is the best of 

 this genus. It is a handsome tree from the start, statel}' and well 

 balanced in maturity. Its foliage affords deep and cooling shade 

 in summer, and is gorgeous as the sunset clouds in autumn. It 

 will bear more mutilation and ill usage and still thrive than almost 

 any other tree. As a waj'side tree, in exposed localities, it has 

 few if any superiors, it being always erect, even where the 

 wind has the fullest sweep. As a pasture shade for cattle, it is 

 peculiarly well adapted. No better work can be done for the 

 many bare, open grazing lots all over ^ew England than to 

 plant, here and there, for shelter and shade, groups or single trees 

 of this kind. They would not only give great comfort to the 

 grazing stock, but please the eye by their sceu'ic beauty. For 

 windbreaks, these trees, in single or double rows, are well adapted, 

 although the white pine will insure this purpose more effectually 

 and in less time. 



As a rule, it is a mistake to transplant these, or in fact an}' 

 other trees, from the woods ; where they grow tall and slender. 

 Even if they are severely topped, it takes them years to adapt them- 

 selves to their changed conditions, if indeed they live at all. If 

 naturally grown trees are used for transplanting, they should be 

 taken from hedge-rows or borders, where they have had free de- 

 velopment in sunlight and air. Generally speaking, it is much 

 better to take nursery grr)wn trees tor transplanting than to de- 

 pend upon seedlings growing naturally. Nursery trees have bet- 

 ter roots, more shapely tops, and if not too thickly massed are 

 more hardened to the weather than those from the woods. And 

 every farmer should have his nursery of forest trees — and his boys 

 should have the larger share in it. There is nothing about the old 

 home, not even the well-sweep and the bucket, which more 

 endears it to the boys when grown to manhood than the trees 



