.35 MR. PROCTOR S ADDRESS. 



Would not the verdure and beauty of the scenery more 

 than balance all inconveniencies ? Let these trees con- 

 tinue to grow, tor one generation only, and the trees 

 themselves would be of more value, than the land on 

 which they were planted. Let them be planted in the 

 streets ot^ villages, and about dwellings, as seems to be 

 the growing taste of the public, and they will have a 

 value almost beyond estimate.* 



The cultivation of the mulbury tree, for the making 

 of silk, demands a passing notice in the history of the 

 efforts of this society. Much pains has been taken to 

 bring this subject before the public, and many efforts 

 have been made to diffuse information, and to encourage 

 the culture. I regret to say that the present condition 

 of this culture, in this County, so far as I have been able 

 to learn it, does not warrant sanguine hopes of much 

 benefit accruing therefrom. Numerous premiums have 

 been offered and awarded for nurseries and trees in va- 

 rious stages of their growth, and numerous experiments 

 have been made, notices of which have been given to the 

 public ; but I am not able to refer to any cultivator who 

 has a plantation in successful growth, or to any individ- 

 ual who has realized a fair remuneration for his labor. 

 Visionary theories have taken the place of established 

 facts. Fanciful estimates, of well balanced accounts. 

 It should be remembered that plants attain to highest 

 perfection for all useful purposes, in the climate and soil 

 where they are found indigenous ; and that the further 

 they are removed from these, the greatei" is the uncer- 

 tainty of their success. The application of this princi- 

 ple will lead to the selection of those species and varie- 

 ties that are best adapted to our climate and soil. If 

 any such can be found that will endure and flourish, from 

 year to year, without special nursing or hot-bed forcing, 



* In three instances within my observation hnxe I known the ravages of fire 

 stopped by the shady elms. This was distinctly so in the destructive fire of 

 Sept, 22, '43, at Danvers, which was prevented passing from the Church to 

 the easterly side of tlie w ay, by several thrifty elms that had been set only about 

 twenty years, ilad it not been stayed in this manner, the whole village must 

 have been consumed. A similar event happened at Gloucester but a few years 

 since. Surely such facts should prompt to the cultivation of such trees. 



