340 Oakes's Catalogue 



its southern to its northern limits, and so from the bounda- 

 ries of its other extremes, may be found, on similar soils, 

 the variety of trees common to the wide flora of the 

 northern United States. 



The value of exact catalogues of natural productions, 

 which occur in defined areas, in particular States or in 

 countries, is perceptible at once to every reflecting mind. 

 To the botanist, the horticulturist, or to him, who of an 

 humble name delights in the cultivation of the earth, who- 

 ever gives the results of his investigation in defining the 

 vegetable riches of particular sections, is a most welcome 

 copartner of his studies and pursuits. Arboriculture, or 

 the artificial rearing of trees, is happily becoming much in 

 vogue among intelligent men ; and the fostering that taste, 

 which prompts to the admiration and love of such magnifi- 

 cent objects of nature, is surely one of the most exalted 

 and philanthropic in its every bearing on the welfare of 

 society. By dint of experiment and untiring patience, that 

 wonderful branch of agricultural avocation, which is called 

 horticulture, has succeeded oftentimes in conquering obsta- 

 cles which, at first sight, seemed almost overwhelming, 

 and in changing, as it were, the very laws of physico-veg- 

 etable existence, in order that they may do its bidding. In 

 the narrow area of gardens, the hardiest mountain pine 

 and the tender foliaged shrub, have been brought into 

 close proximity ; and from horrid wastes and silent deserts, 

 the unnoticed beauties and unheeded utility of many an 

 humble plant or lofty tree, have been transferred to the 

 busy scenes of social life. 



This growing taste for the beautiful in vegetable life, 

 and especially towards the merits of arboriculture, should 

 be encouraged. Every village and town in New England, 

 of any note or advancement in the cause of education, 

 should appreciate its forest productions. Long, indeed, 

 will it be, before they will be swept away by the hand of 

 industry, among our hills and on our mountain sides; but 

 rapidly have they disappeared, and that, too, with waste- 

 ful prodigality heretofore, near the larger towns and cities, 

 especially of our own State. Tradition informs us. that 

 the long ridges of gravel and diluvium, the steep hills now 

 almost leafless and barren, the very islands in our harbors, 

 and bleak rocky peninsulas of our coast, were once covered 

 with trees, remnants of which may yet be occasionally 

 seen in belts or groups of hardy pitch-pines or scraggy 



