ARBOR DA Y MAXl'AL. 3 1 5 



man that he should have the latter's soul at the time when the oak leaves fell ; but when 

 he came to look at the oak in the autumn he found it still in leaf, nor did it part with its 

 old leaves till the new ones began to sprout. In his rage and disappointment he 

 scratched the leaves so vehemently that they have been in consequence jagged ever 

 since. 



White Oak. These are certainly good words for the Oak family. We will next listen 

 to some music from the little birds our very dear friends. 



White Oak. We shall next hear from the Maples, of which there are six in our State. 

 They are cousins to the Buckeye, Bladdernut, and Box-elder, all of which belong to the 

 Maple family. 



Sugar Maple (Louise). I am a favorite ornamental tree. Poets of all ages have sung 

 about the Oak. I am no sweet Singer of Michigan, but I am possessed of sweetness. I 

 claim to have made more boys and girls happy than any other tree. I have many changes 

 in dress wearing in spring the softest shade of every color ; in the summer the purest 

 emerald, and in the autumn the most brilliant yellow. My wood is used for furniture, 

 floors, and for furnishing the interior of houses, and after the houses are finished few 

 can warm them better than I. 



Red Maple (Mary). I am often called Soft Maple, a name also applied to one of my 

 sisters. I beautify the country in spring with early red blossoms, and in autumn my 

 leaves are streaked with scarlet. 



Silver Maple (Jennie). My sister Red Mapie and myself are both called Soft Maple. 

 I make a very rapid growth and am found by the side of streams. I am often planted 

 as a shade tree, and in the far West many are planted for shelter belts and for timber. 



Bass Wood (Maud). I am a fine shade tree, my home a moist, rich soil. My fragrant 

 flowers furnish a great amount of excellent honey for the bees at a time when most other 

 flowers have disappeared. My timber is soft, light and toush. and not apt to split, good 

 for cabinet work, boxes, broom handles, etc. 



Black Cherry (Ethel). With our beautiful blossoms we need not be envious of the 

 orange groves of California. I am one large snowball cf blossoms in the spring. My 

 fruit is much liked by the birds, and my wood is fine, light, durable and looks much like 

 mahogany. My cousins are the wild plum, crab-apple, mountain ash, hawthorn, June- 

 berry, spiraea, the apple, pear, quince, and the peach, and we all belong to the Rose 

 family. 



Black Walnut (Frank). I am not ornamental, nor am I a good neighbor, for I some- 

 times poison other trees that live near me. In spite of my bad qualities, I am liked 

 because I can be converted into cash at any moment. Some of my brothers have sold as 

 high as $2.000. Those who care for us care for a fortune. My relative, the Butternut, 

 is much loved by boys and girls. It was round my brother at Haverstraw, on the Hud- 

 son, that General Wayne mustered his forces at midnight, preparatory to his attack on 

 Stony Point. 



Hickory (Ray). There are four brothers of us in Michigan, but I am the least worthy 

 of them all, and am the only one present at this convention. We are cousins of the Wal- 

 nut and Butternut and all belong to the Walnut family. If you want a wood that is good 

 for buggies, ax handles, barrel hoops, a wood like iron, call upon my brother the Shag- 

 bark. You will have all the nuts you want thrown into the bargain. Once upon a time 

 there was a president of the country who had so man}- of mv qualities that they called 

 him Old Hickory. 



White Oak. We will sing about the " echo which in the forest dwells.'' 



White Oak. We will next hear a few words from the Ashes. (Three rise and stand 

 till all are through.) 



White Ash (Myrtie). I am a tall tree and have often been complimented for my use- 

 fulness. I have been told that I have a graceful top and beautiful pinnate leaves. My 

 wood is heavy, hard, strong, coarse grained, compact, and of a brown color, and is much 

 used for cabinet ware, farm implements, and house finishing. I thrive on rich moist soil. 



Blue Ash (Amy). I am not often found in Michigan. I grow slowly and attain a 

 good size. My wood is valuable for lumber, posts and sills. I may be distinguished 

 from all other Ashes by the square branches of a year's growth. 



Black Ash (Ella). I thrive in swamps and along streams, and become a large, useful 

 tree. My wood is used for furniture, barrel-hoops and baskets. When well cared for, I 

 become one of the finest ornamental trees. For this purpose I have never been fully 

 appreciated. The Ashes belong to the Olive family. We have been called musical, as 

 in this quotation: 



" Ye Ashes wild resounding o'er the steep, 

 Delicious is your music to the soul." 



White Oak. Who will speak next ? (A number rise.) Birch has the floor. 



Birch (William). I am a useful factor in the cause of education, though not now so com- 

 monly found in the school-room as in former years. There are five sisters of us Birches 

 in Michigan. The Alders are our cousins. Probably you are best acquainted with the 



