II. 



THE MAGNOLIAS AND TULIP TREE. 



One of the greatest dangers in writing upon any sub- 

 ject is that of repeating what has already been said. It 

 is impossible to know what may have been printed in 

 the local papers a generation ago, unless some kind 

 friend remembering an article calls your attention to 

 it. lu regard to the trees doubtless many excellent 

 accounts are practically lost for this reason. Mr. 

 Foote has kindly given me notes of a number of articles 

 in relation to trees printed in the Gazette from 1832 to 

 1845, which will be used in their appropriate places. 

 In the first volume of the Institute Historical Collec- 

 tions Mr. John P. Andrews contributes a most care- 

 fully prepared census of the trees of the city, taken by 

 streets, in 1859. It would be very interesting to com- 

 pare Mr. Andrews' list with the trees to day, for it 

 would show great changes. In 1859 there were 2651 

 trees in the city's streets, 1656 of which were elms, 

 353 were maples, and, strange as it may seem, next in 

 number, 110 were cherry trees. The total disappear- 

 ance of these cherry trees, — they were removed owing 

 to the nuisance caused by the foraging of boys, — is a 

 practical answer to those writers who advocate the 

 planting of fruit trees in the public streets. Mr. An- 

 drews gives but sixteen trees in all, including under 

 general names all of the different oaks, maples, lin- 

 dens, etc. 



