TREES FOR SHADE AND ORNAMENT. 
219 
a ring in the middle. It would not do. When the 
simple mode of turning a hook on the end of the 
pivot of the forward hinge suggested itself, I saw that 
what was before useless, had become of value. 
Ultimately Mr. Barton, who makes my harrows for 
sale, proposed that a rod should run quite through 
both set of hinges, with a nut and washer on the back 
end, and an eye with a hook in it, on the forward 
end. In this form it was engraved and published in 
the Transactions of the State Society for 1843. Since 
furnishing the drawing for that engraving, a very im¬ 
portant improvement has been made by an eye 
through which the rod runs, about four inches back 
of the front hinge, screwed into the corner of the 
centre timber. This prevents the rod from springing 
from the draught, when in motion. 
Mr. Wilkinson has further improved, by “ insert¬ 
ing the side timbers at a less acute angle, thus the 
implement will spread over more surface;” and I will 
add, consequently not harrow so fine, by just the 
gain in width. 
Mr. W. took a premium on his harrow at Pough¬ 
keepsie, and one made by Mr. Barton was on the 
ground side by side with it. The explanation is 
this : Mr. Barton had put his harrow in my charge ; 
and as I was, unexpectedly to myself, made chairman 
of the committee, and as I would not suffer an imple¬ 
ment in my charge to compete for a premium that I 
had an influence in awarding, it was withdrawn. 
The harrow is an implement so much used, that a 
very small improvement in it is of great importance. 
With a view to bring it to its most perfect point. I 
invite Messrs. Ruggles and Co., and Mr. Wilkinson, 
and every other person who may suppose he has 
made any improvement in the harrow, to appear at 
Utica, at the next State Agricultural Show, with their 
implements, and let them be compared one with 
another. Geo. Geddes. 
Tyler, N. Y., Jane 9, 1845. 
TREES FOR SHADE AND ORNAMENT. 
The spirit of utilitarianism is carried to such an 
extent in this country, that the ornamental is almost 
always sacrificed to the useful. “ What will be the 
gain thereof ?” is the question propounded, when any 
project is proposed, instead of saying, in accomplish¬ 
ing this or that object, cannot the useful and the 
agreeable be united, thus gratifying the eye, and at 
the same time satisfy the pocket, which is the primum 
mobile of the age. 
There is nothing that harmonizes the passions of 
man, quells the evil influences of trade, or adds to 
the happiness of the soul more, than to throw aroimd 
him those various charms which are found in tne 
natural world ; the green fields, the flowers, the 
fruits, majestic trees, with flocks and herds reposing 
beneath their branches, the waterfall, in fact, the 
panorama of creation as it meets the eye of the agri¬ 
culturist in his daily pursuits. It enlarges the soul, 
expands the intellect, and exalts man. If this be the 
effect of viewing nature in her loveliness, with how 
much more zest can these things be enjoyed, when 
our own hands have dug the soil, sown the seed, 
planted the tree, or trained the vine. We view them 
then as the fruit of our toil; and all know there is 
more real enjoyment in witnessing the results of our 
own labor, than in partaking of that which is bought 
with silver and gold. 
These are some of the thoughts which have been 
suggested to my mind in reading in your May number 
the description ol the beautiful grounds of Mr. Colt, 
at Paterson. I can say as did the Queen of Sheba to 
Solomon, when she saw the splendor of his domi¬ 
nions, “ the hnlf has not been told of them.” Mr. 
Colt can truly say that, under his cultivation, the 
barren hills have been made “ to bud and blossom 
like the rose.” It has also induced me to make a 
few observations on the value and importance of 
shade trees as an ornament to towns and villages, and 
to propose a plan by which the object may be accom¬ 
plished with pleasure to all. 
It should require no argument to prove the value 
and utility of shade trees in public streets and road¬ 
sides. Yet when I look at many places in the coun¬ 
try, more especially westward, I am pained with the 
thought that so little attention is given to beautifying 
them with noble shade trees. In too many cases, the 
streets are as barren of shade as the ocean. The 
people of New England have paid considerable atten¬ 
tion to this subject, and, as a consequence, most of 
the villages are well cared for in this particular. If 
any of your readers have passed through the village 
of Upper Middletown, Ct., they have probably noticed 
two splendid rows of maple trees running the length 
of the main street, which improve the appearance of 
the place more than would the most costly mansion. 
And as the inhabitants walk beneath the shade of 
these trees on a summer’s day, and feel the cool 
breeze as it plays among their branches, have they 
not a just pride in pointing to them, and are they not 
a strong tie to bind the people to their native place ? 
I mention this place as an instance, because it is my 
natal home; many more might be noticed, if it were 
necessary. Take away the elms from New Haven, 
and it would be shorn of its beauty. 
A description of the avenue leading to the residence 
of M r. Clay, as given by a correspondent of the New 
York Tribune, is so apropos to our subject, that I am 
induced to insert it. “ Mr. Clay has paid great atten¬ 
tion to ornamenting his lands with beautiful shade 
trees, shrubs, flowers, and fruit orchards. From the 
road which passes his place on the north-west side, a 
carriage course leads up to th.e house, lined with 
locust, cypress, cedar, and other rare trees, and the 
rose, jasmine and ivy were clustering about them, and 
peeping through the grass and boughs like so many 
laughing fairies as we drove up. His mansion is 
nearly hidden from the road by the trees surrounding 
it, and is as quiet and secluded, save to the throng of 
pilgrims continually pouring up there to greet its pos¬ 
sessor, as though it were in the wilderness.” 
Facts like these might be enumerated to show their 
utility. But shade trees have their value in a pecu¬ 
niary point of view, for they increase the value of 
land in places thus improved. If an individual is 
choosing a location, he does not look to the worth of 
the land by itself, but weighs all the advantages and 
disadvantages the place possesses; and to a man of 
taste, shade trees would often be the turning of the 
scales. 
The objection is sometimes urged, when public im¬ 
provements of this kind are proposed, we may not 
live to reap the benefit, and what use is it to trouble 
ourselves about the matter. They forget that their 
posterity will receive it if they do not, and it is a nar¬ 
row selfish soul that is not willing to do anything for 
