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has originated few books in the last two hundred years more 

 useful than this which still survives in its grand results, 

 although his other works on painting, sculpture, architecture, 

 and medals have long since been forgotten. In many ways 

 England has recognized her great obligations to the man who 

 worked so lovingly and effectively for the good of his country- 

 men. 



Disraeli, in his " Curiosities of Literature," fittingly says : 

 "Had Evelyn only composed the great work of his Sylva, 

 his name would have excited the gratitude of posterity. The 

 voice of the patriot exults in the dedication to Charles II, 

 prefixed to one of the later editions, in which he says : * I 

 need not acquaint your Majesty how many millions of timber 

 trees, besides infinite others, have been planted throughout 

 your vast dominions at the instigation of this work, because 

 your Majesty has been pleased to own it publicly for my 

 encouragement.' Surely, while Britain retains her situa- 

 tion among the nations of Europe, the Sylva of Evelyn will 

 endure with her triumphant oaks. It was a retired philoso- 

 pher who aroused the genius of the nation, and who, casting 

 a prophetic eye towards the age in which we live, contributed 

 to secure our sovereignty of the seas. The present navy of 

 Great Britain has been constructed with the oaks which the 

 genius of John Evelyn planted." 



What trees shall we plant in Connecticut? One of the 

 most valuable of our native trees is the white ash, and, all 

 things considered, it is one of the most profitable for planting. 

 Combining lightness, strength, toughness, elasticity, and 

 beauty of grain in a rare degree, it is in great and growing 

 demand for farming tools, furniture, interior finishing of 

 houses and railroad cars, the construction of carriages, 

 for oars and pulley-blocks, and many other purposes. The 

 excellence of our ash is one secret of the preference given 

 abroad to American agricultural implements. It is hardy, 

 will bear the bleakest exposure, is a rapid grower, and attains 

 large size, but will not thrive on poor lands. It is every way 

 superior to the European ash, much as that has been cultivated 

 and lauded abroad. It is now found widely in the nurseries 



