154 MASSACHU."^ETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



however small, for the benefit of the laudlord, and the latter is 

 less inclined to spend nionej' Adhere he does not see that he is 

 getting a direct benefit for himself. To let the trees become 

 shabby or go to utter destruction is a short-sighted policy for any 

 individual or community. 



In short, an effort should be made to secure legislation which 

 shall make compulsory the placing of guards around trees in 

 exposed places. Furthermore, the care of the trees in public 

 grounds should be entrusted only to persons specially trained for 

 the purpose. An engineer may be admirably qualified to construct 

 good roads, but it does not, therefore, follow that he knows how 

 to manage trees, and even those who have attained great skill in 

 the cultivation of flowers and the arrangement of flower-beds are 

 not necessarily the best persons to look after trees. The desirable 

 legislation can probablj^ be secured just as soon as the public 

 understand why it is desirable and necessary. It is all very well 

 to talk about the protection of forests and the formation of 

 national parks in distant states. But we have our own forests, 

 which are the trees in our streets and public grounds, and before 

 turning our eyes in other directions we had better see what is 

 needed at home. It devolves upon you, ladies and gentlemen, so 

 to educate the public in this matter that they shall soon learn to 

 recognize that a tree is something to be respected and protected. 

 It is not enough that we erect commemorative tablets before a few 

 historical trees, and take strangers to see, not so nuich the trees as 

 the tablets. Historical association may lend an additional 

 interest, but every well-developed tree has that within itself which 

 should command our respect and admiration, — its beaut}" and its 

 utility. 



The lecture was illustrated by views, thrown upon a screen, of 

 wounds caused by the gnawing of horses ; specimens of skilful, 

 and of careless pruning; stumps of broken branches, etc., show- 

 ing the progress at different stages of Nature's efforts to heal 

 them. Several kinds of fungi which are found upon and in Such 

 wounds were also shown, with the method of their growth and 

 appearance at different stages of development. This exhibition 

 included front, side, and sectional views, which, with Professor 

 Farlow's explanations, afforded a very clear and complete idea of 

 the subject. 



