BRISTOL SOCIETY. 379 



Time was, when the setting of shade trees by the road-side 

 was forbidden by law, lest in case of fires in a village, they 

 should be the means of spreading the conflagration from dwel- 

 ling to dwelling ; but thanks to a wiser, and more far-seeing 

 legislation, their cultivation is now encouraged by statute, and 

 their wilful and malicious destruction is visited with a heavy 

 penalty. 



A wealthy inhabitant of Middlesex recently left a legacy of 

 several hundred dollars, for planting trees by the road-side. 

 What future way-farer, as he seeks rest and shelter under their 

 welcome shade, will not pronounce blessings on this benefactor 

 of his race ? A public spirited member of our own society* has 

 directly or indirectly caused several hundred trees to be trans- 

 planted along the highways, within a few years past, and 

 already his example is imitated by many who were first in- 

 clined to oppose or ridicule. Let us then encourage the culti- 

 vation of ornamental trees, remembering that in their happy 

 influences upon our posterity, they will bear fruit, "some thirty, 

 some sixty, and some an hundred fold." 



This society have off"ered for the greatest number of orna- 

 mental trees of the best kind, and in the most thrifty condition, 

 planted by the road-side, a premium of $10. No competitor 

 has entered for this premium. 



The cultivation of forest trees also demands our attention, 

 and is worthy of our serious eff'orts. Modern civilization is 

 fast sweeping away the beauty and pride of those noble for- 

 ests, which waved so majestically over our land when the May- 

 flower touched our New England shores. The murderous axe 

 of the Yankee farmer has made wanton havoc of our noble 

 pines and stately oaks ; the work of destruction is still going on, 

 and necessity will soon compel us to adopt some energetic 

 measures for the preservation of so valuable a production of 

 our soil. 



The beauty and usefulness of the forest are each sufficient 

 reasons for cherishing and preserving it. 



How much more pleasant to the eye is a hill-side, with its 

 green trees and splendid foliage, to a naked barren summit 



* Mr. Samuel Carpenter of Altleborough. 



