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trees though healthy have not made a very rapid growth, 

 bcins: now from twelve to eighteen inches in diameter ; 

 affording, however, a grateful shade in the centre of a 

 driveway a quarter of a mile long and thirty-five feet 

 wide. So beautiful is this that very many strangers are 

 induced to drive in and through the farm to enjoy the 

 shade thus afforded. 



This first experience in setting shade trees proved so 

 satisfactory that in later years, from time to time, I have 

 planted some three hundred ornamental trees of various 

 kinds along all of the highways and railroad that pass 

 through or by my farm, adding much beauty to the land- 

 scape and comfort to man and beast that travel that way. 



The grove of twenty-five trees in front of the Clifton 

 House, being very near the ocean, was quite difficult to 

 make grow, as the exposure to the severe easterly storms 

 and high winds is more than those trees will generally 

 bear. This grove was started thirty-five years ago by 

 planting the trees quite near together, thereby affording 

 protection to each other, and as they have grown, the 

 weak ones have been removed, following the natural law 

 that the fittest survive. Several varieties were here 

 planted, not knowing which would stand the exposure the 

 best. The American elm, Norway maple, Sycamore ma- 

 ple, English linden and Balm of gilead are now standing 

 in the group, all in a healthy condition, varying in size 

 from six to sixteen inches in diameter, and from fifteen to 

 forty feet in height. There were originally some Silver- 

 leafed Poplars nearest the ocean, which grew quite well 

 for a few years, but have since all died ; they were not 

 very satisfactory at any time, continually throwing up 

 suckers and showing more or less dead branches. 



In the summer season the dense shade which this grove 

 affords is highly appreciated by the guests of the Clifton 

 House. 



