5G MASSACHUSETTS IIORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



use to the people should enter as a factor into the education of 

 theyoung: aud this information coneerniug trees will become in 

 its application a perennial good to all. 



b. There is no element of natural benutj' that can be so easily 

 or so inexpensive!}' employed as that of the arboreal growth of a 

 region like this ; but knowledge and appreciation of it are neces- 

 sary to ensure the best results. 



c. Children natural!}' take to trees ; they are therefore easily 

 interested in everything about them. 



d. Trees furnish a wide range of matter for the development 

 of the powers of observation, comparison, aud classification ; aud 

 the material for these lessons is readily obtained, is inexpensive 

 aud always interesting. 



e. A friendship is thus formed for trees ; and its objects are 

 never treacherous or disappointing. We naturally associate sin- 

 gle trees with some person or family, some event, some treasured 

 iucideut in our own lives. The}' stand as guardians of precious 

 memories: thus — the old 'Homestead' trees, the 'Class Day' 

 trees, the ' Liberty ' trees and the ' Arbor Day ' trees. Not less to 

 us, aud in a more intelligent wa}', do the trees of today speak, 

 tlian did the forests of Dodona to the ancient Greeks who read 

 oracles in their whispers." 



But while preparing for future generations of workers through 

 the schools and other less direct influences upon tlie young, there 

 is still the work of today to be carried on. This may receive a 

 very helpful impetus from organized bodies like this Society. 

 They may properly encourage, or indeed originate the needed 

 legislative enactments. Their members, recognizing the benefits 

 of tree planting, could promote the work by forming in their sev- 

 eral localities " village improvement societies," or more special as- 

 sociations for propagating trees. Better still, they can beautify 

 the land through the silent influence of example. You can no 

 doubt recall notable instances of what this modest method of 

 work has done. 



I have not promised much in the way of practical matter upon 

 the topics which headed this paper. To what has been inciden- 

 ally given I have but little to add. I would remark, however, that, 

 as a rule, it is not safe to rely upon even a professional laudscape 

 gardener, if practically unacquainted with your grounds, to tell you 

 what trees and shrubs to set, and where, for sylvan erabcllishmeut. 



