26 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
• r 
into line. The trees we used were water 
oaks, live oaks, maples, sweet gums and 
wild cherry—all growing wild in this im¬ 
mediate neighborhood. Each street 
planted was set solid to one or the other 
of these species. Later on, other streets 
will be opened up and either set out with 
these or other species—plenty of which 
yet remain to be drawn on. In other sec¬ 
tions of the state, other species than those 
we have used might be preferable. We 
have them—^all of us^—in our respective 
localities. If we are interested we will 
find out what they are and, in finding out 
surprise ourselves with the quantity and 
suitableness of the material at hand. 
When we have come into contact with 
Nature’s plants and shrubs and vines in 
all their lavishness of form and color, and 
her native trees in all their stateliness and 
grandeur, and have become not merely 
superficially acquainted but have, so to 
speak, established friendly relations with 
them, as individuals—instead of meeting 
them as a collection of perfunctorily-in¬ 
troduced and soon-forgotten strangers—^ 
we shall experience a sense of loss in not 
sooner having come into direct fellowship 
with them; in not having earlier accepted 
their proffered, standing invitation of 
companionship. 
Some years ago, I had the good for¬ 
tune to drive through one of the most ma¬ 
jestic avenues of live oaks in this coun¬ 
try—situated at Audubon Park, New Or¬ 
leans. The remembrance of their gran¬ 
deur led me, a short time since, to obtain 
authentic information in relation to these 
Oaks. I find that there are one hundred 
of them in the park and that they are now 
approximately sixty feet high and have an 
approximate spread of one hundred feet, 
with a trunk diameter of four feet or over. 
These trees were planted in 1813 by Judge 
Gayerre and his grandfather, Etienne de 
Bore. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I do 
not know anything more about Judge 
Gayerre and Etienne de Bore than the in¬ 
formation I have conveyed to you. They 
may have done other deeds for which they 
should be remembered but I submit to you 
that for this one deed they deserved, and 
in its accomplishment unwittingly erected 
to themselves, monuments, not one but 
a hundred of them, that will keep their 
memories green and their names revered, 
long after worthy expressions of their vir¬ 
tues in- costly stone or marble would have 
been forgotten. 
And so, to summarize, I would sav to 
you, get acquainted with the trees. In 
doing so, you will derive pleasure and 
benefit. Protect them from fire; in pro¬ 
tecting them, you will serve your own 
interests, together with those of the state. 
Plant them around your houses and along 
your highways; throughout the streets of 
your respective towns and villages. Erom 
a purely investment basis it will pay you 
in enhanced value of property. From the 
point of personal comfort, they will soon 
repay you in shade, beauty and compan¬ 
ionship. From a higher, beneficent, 
philanthropic standpoint, you will leave 
an inheritance for which future gene¬ 
rations will bless you. 
