ON RURAL EMBELLISHMENT. 255 



new roots may push freely, and find food. The infertile 

 soil from the pit should be thrown away, and its place 

 supplied by mould taken from the surrounding surface ; 

 the roots should have their natural direction, and the earth 

 be well pressed upon them ; and the plants should be pro- 

 tected from cattle till they are of a size not to be injured 

 by them. 



Our attention has been particularly drawn to this sub- 

 ject, by reading the report and the constitution of the 

 Bangor Association, termed, the Ornamental Tree Soci- 

 ety, which has been recently formed, and whose object 

 is the embellishment of their city by planting out forest 

 trees. The constitution requires, that "every member 

 shall himself set out, or cause to be set out, one or more 

 ornamental trees, on such of the public streets or squares 

 of the city as he may elect" — the kind of tree, and the 

 distance of planting, to be determined by the directors. 

 Accompanying the report, in the New England Farmer, 

 are two letters from General Dearborn, on ornamental 

 planting, evincing much experience and good taste in the 

 matter. 



" The monotony of appearance, which lines or clumps 

 of the same tree produce, is to be avoided, and a pic- 

 turesque and agreeable aspect obtained, by increasing 

 the varieties ;* for as the periods of their foliation are so 

 very different, as well as the tints of green when in vege- 

 tation, and the remarkable autumnal changes quite as dis- 

 similar, they are presenting an ever-varying, yet always 

 pleasing and interesting scene. Besides, we have so 

 many magnificent species of native trees, which flourish 

 luxuriantly, even in the most exposed situations, that I 

 have never been able to divine, why one particular tree 

 should be so universally selected, as shades, or for orna- 

 ment, not only around private dwellings, but for all pub- 

 he places. As well might all flowers be excluded from 

 our gardens but the rose, or the lilach, and all fruits from 

 our orchards but the apple." 



" For your streets I recommend the alternate planting 



* The General considers the planting of only one kind of tree as 

 evincing a bad taste. 



