48 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



tree in many respects, and deserves more frequent planting. In some 

 towns the Norway maple has been extensively planted, but the 

 tendency of the species to form a low head makes it objectional. It 

 interferes with traffic and prevents a free circulation of air through the 

 street. The pin oak promises to become one of the more valuable 

 trees; naturally narrow and upright in shape, moderately rapid in 

 growth, free from disease and insect attacks, and especially attractive 

 in its fall coloring, it has much in its favor. In some sections the 

 poplars and silver maples are extensively planted for quick effects, 

 but these trees are naturally short-lived, and give an appearance of 

 cheapness to the locality when used abundantly. 



Many of our railroads are criticised for one cause or another. 

 The trains are not run on schedule time, the suburban rate of fare 

 is too high, or the cars are not modern in their equipment. In 

 many cases these criticisms are warranted. However, on many of 

 these railroads the management has given much consideration to the 

 value of the aesthetic surrounding of their stations, and the orna- 

 mental planting around these stations is to be commended. One's 

 opinion of the attractiveness of a town for residential purposes is 

 raised by pleasing first impressions, and here lies one value of orna- 

 mentation around railroad stations. 



One may study the effect of the beautiful produced by the hand 

 of man in the gardens of the Old and the New World. He finds 

 much that is impressive and to be admired in these gardens. But to 

 the nature lover this same element of beauty prevails throughout 

 the garden of God's "Out-of-Doors." Nowhere in the formal 

 gardens do we find impressiveness more forcible than in the tower- 

 ing pine, the massive oak, or the picturesque hickory. In Nature's 

 garden there is a marvellous blending of colors for spring, summer, 

 fall, and winter effects. The attractive white birch bark blends 

 with the grays and browns of other species. The fall fruits are 

 just as abundant and attractive as in our introduced species, and the 

 spring and summer flowers just as brilliant in coloring and sweet 

 in perfume. In English gardens the symmetrical enclosures are 

 attractive; in Italy the perennial verdure of the trees, blended with 

 the moving water, is grand ; in Japanese gardens the picturesqueness 

 appeals to the eye; but in no garden fashioned by the hand of man 

 do we find the lofty grandeur of mountain peaks, blended Avith 



