10 THE TREES OF AMERICA. 



easily, understood and put in practice. We have transplanted hundreds of trees 

 and shrubs, and with such uniform success, that we now not only expect them 

 in all cases to live, (where their character and condition would warrant such an 

 expectation,) but to make a rapid and vigorous growth. In the second place 

 we would call upon the nursery men to lend their aid. It is their business, Ave 

 know, to sell trees, and it may seem strange that we recommend them to give 

 away their goods in order to increase their business ; but we are convinced, by 

 actual observation, that what Downing recommended some time since is the best 

 course. He says, " It may appear, to some of our commercial readers, an odd 

 recommendation, to urge them to give away precisely that which it is their busi- 

 ness to sell ; but we are not talking at random, when we say, most confidently, 

 that such a course steadily pursued by amateurs and nurserymen, throughout the 

 country, for ten years, would increase the taste for planting, and the demand for 

 trees, five hundred fold." We know of an instance where this course has been 

 pursued, by one liberal-minded nursery man, and the result has been, that his 

 sales have more than doubled, every year, since he commenced the practice. It 

 is but just to say, however, as this will fall under his eye, that he has done this 

 with no view to profit, but from the promptings of a noble and generous heart. 

 It should be remembered by those who are disposed to benefit individuals 

 and the country in this manner, that they have it in their power to do much 

 to form a correct taste in regard to the choice of ornamental trees. They 

 shoidd urge the cultivation of our native trees. There are two reasons for this, 

 which would seem to be conclusive : In most cases they are far more beautiful, 

 and better adapted to our climate, than foreign trees. We have but to visit 

 other countries to see how mistaken we are when we choose foreign trees and 

 Bhrubs in preference to our own. An eminent Belgian collector said to an 

 American traveller, after speaking of the difficulty he had in obtaining oiu- native 

 plants and trees, " And so, in a country of azaleas, kalmias, rhododendrons, 

 cypripediums, magnolias, and nysas, the loveliest fioAvers, shrubs, and trees 

 of temperate climates, you never put them in your gardens, but send over the 

 water, every year, for thousands of dollars' worth of English larches and Dutch 

 hyacinths. 'Voila le gout republicain ! '" — Behold the taste of republicans! 



