1871. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



221 



TREES. 



Ornamental and Fruit, — Their Cultivation, — 



How THEY GRy)W,— Their Diseases, Knemies, and 



Uses. 



OME of the causes which have 

 influenced our people to give 

 i* more attention to the cultiva- 

 tion of trees, were alluded to in a 

 recent article, in which we spoke 

 of the effects on soil and crops, re- 

 sulting from the absence of trees, 

 and mentioned briefly some of the 

 qualities of the River Apple. 



It is not strange, perhaps, that our fore- 

 fathers demolished the magnificent forests with 

 which the soil was once clothed, as though 

 they were a niiisance to be abated, rather tlian 

 one of the richest boons which Heaven had be- 

 stowed upon our land. Their great need was 

 not shelter and warmth, — these the forest 

 amply provided, — it was food ; the means of 

 subsistence. In the way of these stood the 

 giant trees of the land, filling the earth with 

 their roots, and ca^i^ting their shade over the 

 surface, so that tlie plants from Avhich they 

 might obtain food for themselves, and upon 

 which their cattle and sheep might subsist, 

 were utterly unable to grow. They must have 

 open fields, and the sun's rays upon them, or 

 they must die. So the ancient forests fell in 

 every direction. 



After all, there was an almost inexcusable 

 thoughtlessness in the practice of that day, and 

 in some degree in that of the present day. 

 "When a spot was selected upon which to erect 

 the dwelling, every bush and tree was cut 

 away, though there may have been standing 

 upon it trees of charming proportions, and 

 shrubs of various kinds, which would adorn 

 any rural cottage. Winter winds were thus 

 admitted in full force, and the unobstructed 

 summer sun smote the inmates of the house 

 through the curtainless windows, until they 

 were glad to seek refreshing shade in the ad- 

 jacent forest ! A single year of . such experi- 

 ences was sufficient to convince them of the 

 error of their indiscriminate removal of the 

 beautiful trees which once stood where they 

 were now desired. 



With all the light afforded by both precept 

 and example, through several generations, 

 against such a course, we see it adopted every 

 year, where new settlements are entered upon 

 and the forests are felled. A few years of 

 2 « 



annoyance and impatience are passed, and then 

 comes the process of transplanting trees around 

 the dwelling, or, in some cases, of abandon- 

 ing it to the use of the cows, and erecting a 

 new one where fine shade and ornamental trees 

 will protect the house and its inmates ! 



By the efforts of men, and of women, too, 

 of taste and genius, our people are arrivin"- at 

 a more just appreciation of the beauty, health- 

 ful influences and pecuniary value of trees, 

 and are exerting themselves to restore to our 

 public grounds, higiiways, and especially pri- 

 vate residences, the graceful and noble trees 

 which in too many cases have been recklessly 

 swept away. 



No people had finer opportunities than our 

 fathers to plant their dwellings in the midst of 

 beautiful and grand scenery. Though clear- 

 ings were indispensable, they did not demand 

 total destruction. The Indians had spared 

 and respected the ancient forests about tlicir 

 wigwams, but the first settlers, with less taste 

 than the red man, girdled and burned them, 

 and erected their houses in the midst of the 

 desolation. Had they selected with good 

 taste, and preserved tiie noble tenants of the 

 soil in groups, or standing singly, around 

 their dweUings, and along the water courses, 

 by the way-sides, and here and there on tiicir 

 fields, we may readily imagine how difl'ercnt 

 would have been the aspect of many parts of 

 New England. 



Our work, then, so far as it relates to forest 

 and ornamental trees, is a work of restoration. 

 This has been vigorously commenced in many 

 parts of the country. Nurseries exist where 

 all forest trees are propagated from their 

 seeds, and inclined while young into beautiful 

 forms. Tree societies are formed in many 

 places for the purpose of adorning public 

 grounds and highways. Individual enterijnse 

 is surrounding our dwellings with beautiful 

 trees and shrubs, which are giving the coun- 

 try new attractions. This work should be en- 

 couraged not only by every lover of beauty 

 and nature, but by e^•ery lover of his country ; 

 for as the land in which a man is bom and 

 reared, is made attractive by his hands, so 

 will his patriotism be increased. It is not 

 enough that it should be engaged in by ama- 

 teurs, and by the wealthy, or even by those 

 engaged in the mechanic art« — who, greatly to 

 their credit have taken a decided interest in 



