THE GENi:SEE FAEMER. 



83 



SHADE TBEES, &c. 



There are few objects in the vegetable world 

 really more interesting and beantiful than our noble 

 forest trees. No country on earth is more blessed 

 than ours ; and none can boast of such a variety 

 of magnificent shade trees. 



He only who has a knowledge of trees and plants, 

 and who has learned to appreciate their beauties, 

 can enjoy the pleasures of the country. People 

 who have not seen our native trees in open airy 

 situations, under good, careful culture, know noth- 

 ing of their real beauties. An Elm, or a Tulip tree, 

 crowded up in a thicket, with a tall, naked trunk, 

 thirty or forty feet high, and a mere tuft of leaves 

 on the summit, is a totally diiferent object from the 

 same tree standing on a lawn, with a finely developed 

 form, and luxuriant foliage. Trees, like men, and 

 more than men, show culture and care in the 

 training. 



The Elm, with its wide spreading and gracefully 

 drooping branches, is one of the most elegant of 

 forest trees. The Oak has always been held as the 

 emblem of majesty and strength. It is one of the 

 most magnificent, as it is one of the longest lived of 

 the forest tribes, and its timber is valuable for its 

 strength and durability. The Beech tree is truly a 

 fine tree, and were it not so common, its noble 

 appearance would be more generally appreciated. 



What tree can be more beautiful than our Horse 

 Chestnut, with its large and glossy foliage, and 

 graceful cluster of flowers; or the Scarlet Maple, 

 with its bright and early blossoms and silvery foliage; 

 or the Shad-blow lighting up the woods with its 

 flowers of snowy whiteness ; or the Azalias, that 

 will set the hills in a blaze of bloom ; or the Kalraia, 

 with its trumpet'like flowers ; or the Mountain Ash, 

 with its flowers in spring and its scarlet fruit in 

 autumn ; or the Locust, with its fragrant pink blos- 

 soms? Then our noble White Pine, Hemlock, Bal- 

 sams and Spruce, Hickory, Butternut, and Black 

 Walnut, &c. Why neglect such treasures, and seek 

 for foreign species, not half so grand and beautiful? 

 We would by no means discourage the introduction 

 and planting of rare and fine exotics: they should 

 be mixed with our native trees to give the planta- 

 tion an air of keeping and cultivation. 



There is, we are happy to say, a great taste grow- 

 ing up throughout our country, and especially 

 around cities and villages, for planting . shade and 

 ornamental trees. Thousands and thousands of 

 dollars are annually expended in ornamental plant- 

 ing, and whilst rare and costly exotics are gathered 

 from all parts of the world, our own beautiful trees 

 are neglected. 



How much might be added to the appearance of 

 many, indeed, of most of our farms and country 

 residences, if proper attention were paid to the 

 planting of shade trees in their appropriate places. 

 Nothing, in our estimation, contributes so much to 

 the pleasantness of a place as the presence of fine 

 trees, and surely no luxury of half the value can 

 be procured for the same price. The cost of pro- 

 curing and planting a shade tree is so trifling, that 

 on this score at Icnsf, there is no excuse tor the 

 frequent omissions of duty in this respect. We 

 sav •luty. because tlie planting of trees, particularly 

 frui' trees, is obligatory upon every one who has 

 enjoyed the labors of his predecessors in the same 

 direction. Every generation is to a great extent 



dependent upon the one which precedes it, for its 

 supply of fruit and shade. But there is another 

 light in which the planting of fruit and shade trees 

 may be regarded as a duty. The decrease of in- 

 sectivorous birds, and the consequent alarming 

 increase of destructive insects is in a great measure 

 attributable to the fact that one by one, the trees 

 that offered a refuge have been cut away, and these 

 useful little fellows, properly indignant not only at 

 this decided want of taste, but total disregard o' 

 their comfort, have taken up their abode in othc 

 sections, never to return until their favorite haunt; 

 — trees — are returned to them. Handsome fruit 

 and ornamental trees judiciously planted not only 

 advance the beauty but add greatly to the value 

 of farms. o. n. bement. 



Springmle, December, 1859. 



%Mm' ^qiximwt 



HINTS TO HOUSEWIVES. 



Yessel8 intended to contain liquid of a higher 

 temperature than the surrounding medium, and to 

 keep that liquid as long as possible at the highest 

 temperature, should be constructed of materials 

 which are the worst radiators of heat. Thus, tea 

 urns and tea pots are best adapted for their purpose 

 when constructed of polished metal, and worst 

 when constructed of black porcelain. A black por- 

 celain tea pot is the worst conceivable material for 

 that vessel, for both its materials and color are good 

 radiators of heat, and the liquid contained in it 

 cools with the greatest possible rapidity. On the 

 other hand, a bright metal tea-pot is best adapted 

 for the purpose, because it is the worst radiator of 

 heat, and therefore cools as slowly as possible. A 

 polished silver or brass tea urn is better adapted to 

 retain the heat of the water, than one of a dull 

 brown color, such as is most commonly used. A 

 tin kettle retains the heat of water boiled in it 

 more effectually if it be kept clean and polished, 

 than if it be allowed to collect the smoke and soot 

 to which it is exposed from the action of the fire. 

 When coated with this, its surface becomes rough 

 and black, and is a powerful radiator of heat. A 

 set of polished fii'e irons may remain for a long 

 time in front of a hot fire, without receiving from 

 it any increase of temperature beyond that of the 

 chamber, because the heat radiated by the fire is 

 all reflected by the polished surface of the irons, 

 and none of it is absorbed ; but if a set of rough, 

 unpolished irons were similarly placed, they would 

 become speedily so hot, that they could not be used 

 without inconvenience. The polish of the fire 

 irons is, therefore, not merely a matter of orna- 

 ment, but of use and convenience. Therough, un- 

 polished poker, sometimes used in a kitchen, be- 

 comes speedily so hot that it can not be held with- 

 out pain. A close stove, intended to warm apart- 

 ments, should not have a polished surface, for in 

 that case it is one of the worst radiators of heat, 

 and nothing could be contrived less fit for the pur- 

 pose to which it is applied. On the other hand, a 

 rough, unpolished surface of cast iron, is favorable 

 to radiation, and a fire in sucli a stove will always 

 produce a most powerful effect.— i??'. La/rdner on 

 Heat. 



