IIo NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 
When the trees and shrubs are young, they should be 
frequently cultivated and the grass and weeds kept away 
from them. After they shade the ground thoroughly, the- 
grass usually does not thrive well enough to harm them. 
Unless the soil is quite rich, it should be well fertilized, that 
being just as necessary in this case as it is for farm and garden 
crops. 
A Few or THE Brest TREES FOR NORTHERN STATES. 
The person who does not admire fine trees must indeed 
be blind to the beauties of nature, for they are the grandest 
objects in the whole domain of plants and command our 
admiration even though we cannot tell their names. But 
if we become acquainted with them our appreciation is 
greatly enhanced, because each kind possesses charms that 
are peculiar to itself and that may easily escape observa- 
tion. Moreover, a practical knowledge of trees makes it 
possible to raise them about our homes in greater variety 
and abundance and thus to increase this source of pleasure 
for ourselves and our posterity. 
The species described in the following pages are readily 
transplanted and are fairly rapid growers, though they vary 
considerably in both of these particulars. We should, of course, 
not limit our studies to this list, but should aim to become ac- 
quainted with all the varieties found growing in our neighbor- 
hood. 
The Cottonwood is a species of poplar, though it usually 
bears its own specific name, and when we speak of a “ pop- 
lar ” we mean one of the near relatives of this species, as the 
Norway or the Lombardy poplar, or the common native 
poplars or aspens. The.cottonwood is the largest of the 
poplars, easily reaching a height of 100 feet. It takes its 
