^6 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1895. 



correspond so closely as to make identification absolutely certain ; 

 and there are many of us who would like to know something of the 

 trees about us, who have neither the time nor the inclination for the 

 kind of work this involves. For the benefit mainly of such persons, a 

 kind of tree directory has been invented, and the evolution of such 

 a book is an iuterestiug example of the specializing tendency I have 

 just mentioned. The French botanist Michaux, who did so much 

 work on our Flora, first published his North American Silva, which 

 he called ^ A Description of the Forest Trees of the United States, 

 Canada and Nova Scotia," in the year 1819. A good deal of ground 

 he had to cover. In 1846, agreeably to an order of the legislature, 

 George B. Emerson wrote his Report on the Trees and Shrubs grow- 

 ing naturally in the Forests of Massachusetts, a less ambitious work 

 in its scope, but more thoroughly done. In 1891, John Robinsou, of 

 Salem, wrote a detailed account of the trees growing in the streets 

 and gardens of his own city, accompanying his descriptions with 

 exact locations. If he had wanted any exclusive right in this inven- 

 tion of his, Mr. Robinson should have had it patented ; for it was 

 followed in 1892, by Prof. Humphrey's " Amherst Trees," in which 

 the author claims to describe and locate all the trees growing within a 

 radius of a mile of the post-office in Amherst. Last year a similar 

 account of the trees of Worcester appeared, and I know of at least 

 one other New England city, Augusta, Maine, whose trees are being 

 inventoried in a like manner. Let us consider for a minute the con- 

 venience of such a guide to those interested in studying the trees. 

 You all appreciate the ease with which you are able to find auybody 

 by means of your city directory. If you want Thomas Smith, and 

 don't know where he lives, you consult the bulky volume of Messrs. 

 Drew and AUis, and find immediately his street and number. Sup- 

 pose it is the Norway maple you want to make the acquaintance of 

 and you don't know where it is to be found. If your tree directory 

 is at hand you can find with equal readiness where it is at home. If 

 this isn't levelling this particular hill of knowledge, it is at least 

 putting an electric railway to the top and making the ascent possible 

 without elt'ort. Perhaps you read that, at 772 Main Street, there is 

 a well-grown specimen of your maple; the next time your business 

 or your pleasure takes you in that direction, your acquaintance with 

 it will at least l)e inaugurated, to be continued in future meetings ; 

 and in the case of many trees, if you are found worthy, to ripen into 

 friendsliip and even intimacy. And how much pleasure is added to 

 our restricted city lives by these friendships ! A walk over brick 



