220 ASSOCIATIONS FOR EURAL IMPROVEMENT. 



of natural and picturesque effects, rather than costly display. A scrap 

 of rustic woodland, with its little waterfall and wild forest flowers, close 

 by the beaten thoroughfare and busy mart of a crowded city, would 

 doubtless give more real enjoyment to its citizens than sculptured mar- 

 ble fountains and elaborate decorations of art. 



A rural art society was formed in the village of Clinton, Oneida 

 County, New York, — the seat of Hamilton College, in 1854, upon the sug- 

 gestion of a gentleman from Stockbridge, Mass., and partly upon the 

 ])hin of the association already mentioned as existing in that i»lace. 

 The society invites to its membership all citizens who are interested in 

 horticulture, pomology, rural embellishment, and, in short, in whatever 

 pertains to the material improvement of the town. Among its present 

 members are most of the College faculty, physicians, clergymen, farmers, 

 and business men. And among its results are a village park, planted 

 and inclosed with a substantial hedge, the establishment of a new rural 

 cemetery, laid out and embellished in an attractive manner, a girdle of 

 evergreens around the old abandoned cemetery, and a marked improve- 

 ment everywhere in the laying out and planting of private grounds. It 

 does not undertake to do work outside of its legitimate sphere, by seek- 

 ing to promote the cause of education, or morals, or religion, yet, within 

 the bounds of usefulness assigned, it has done and is doing good service. 

 Topics for discussion are assigned from month to month, and those pre- 

 senting them are expected to prepare themselves for stating the points 

 under consideration, either in writing or orally. The subjects are varied, 

 and the information elicited by the statement and comparison of views 

 is of much practical interest. Not the least important feature of the 

 society is its social element, the supper-table being a bond of union 

 whose strength has been tried and found great. A pleasant writer in 

 describiug this society very justly remarks: "It seems impossible for 

 those who so frequently enjoy each others hospitality not to become 

 attached to one another and to the society there represented." It has now 

 worked for more than twenty years, and so well that its members would 

 scarcely be willing to let it suspend its operations, nor suffer any essen- 

 tial changes to be made in the organization. 



The city of Tuscaloosa, Ala., is sometimes called the " Druid Cifij,^' or 

 " The City of Oaks,^^ on account of the fine avenues of the water-oak 

 planted in a central line and along the sides of the streets. This plant- 

 ing was begun in 1837, by Mr. Thomas Maxwell, who set the example 

 upon one block, and induced the authorities to adopt it in every street 

 in the city.^ 



The city of Cleveland has acquired the title of the " Forest City,^^ on 

 account of shade-trees planted in the streets and public grounds, most 

 of them within twenty-five years. This was brought about by public 

 opinion, cultivated by the example of the late Leonard Case and a few 

 other large owners of city lots.^ 



1 Tuscaloosa: The Origin of its Name, its History, etc., -p. 80. 



" Au elm set out Ijy him in 1824, still thrives near the southwest corner of the post- 

 office. Its girth 2 feet above the pavement is 7 feet, and consequently its diameter is 

 2 feet 5 iuclies. In 1836 the Hon. John W. Allen, John M. Sterling, and the late Charles 

 M. Giddiugs planted native trees in front of lots in which they vrero interested. By 

 their exertions the village corporation authorized the same to bo done in the northeast 

 quarter of the public square, and in 1839-'40 in other parts of it, under the direction of 

 John Wills. These trees ai'e principally elms, and now, after a life of thirty-live or forty 

 years, are from 1^ to 2 feet in diameter. By observations upon nineteen cultivated 

 trees, whose age was known, the average annual increase in diameter was about 

 two-thirds of au inch, or the annual layer about a third of an inch.— {Col. Charles 

 WluUlcsaj.) 



