214 
THE 
AMERICAN GAR^ 
[Novej, 
TBEES rOE SHADE AND SHELTEE. 
At a meeting of tlie Massachusetts SoHi- 
cultural Society, the subject g‘! 
was, “Planting Shade and Sheltei Tie , 
the most desii-able varieties and the sous 
best adapted thereto.” It was opened inth 
a paper byLeander Wetherell, who began 
by speaking of the importance of tree plant¬ 
ing as affording shade from the biirmng sun, 
in a country remarkable like ours foi e 
clearness of its atmosphere, and shelter from 
cold winds for gardens and orchards, as 
well as for homesteads and the contiguous 
grounds. 
Trees for these purposes should be chosen 
with reference to their adaptation to tlie 
soil where they are to be planted; and also 
to beauty, that they may be decorative as 
well as useful. An Oak, Elm, or Maple tree, 
shading a mode.st dwelling with a grass plat 
before it, makes it more attractive than a 
showy mansion impvotected by a tree. The 
pilgrim and wayfarer welcome trees by the 
roadside, under whose umbrageous boughs 
they may pause and rest their weary limbs. 
Trees should therefore be planted by the 
roadside, and gi’oups should also be provided 
in pastm'es, where cattle may find shelter 
from the heat of the sun. 
The essayist said that one of the most 
distinct and pleasant recollections of his 
boyhood was that of four large trees near the 
house—a majestic White Oak, a stately Elm, 
and two shell-bark Hickories; and a little 
farther from the house, three large Chestnuts, 
which, as well as the Hickories, were quite 
notable for size and age. They were also 
good annual nut producers, the nuts from 
one of the Hickories being remarkable for 
size and quality; and the Chestnuts, Hiekory 
nuts, Apples, and sweet cider did much to 
make cheerful the domestic rural life. 
The influence of trees upon the healthful- 
ness of the atmosphere was next considered. 
They not only, like other plants, imbibe car¬ 
bonic acid, but air charged with moisture is 
deprived of it by trees. Localities in Italy 
have been preserved from fever by screens of 
trees, and it is generally conceded that forest 
screens are protections against noxious exlia- 
lations from marshes when located at the 
windward of them. The swamps of the 
SouthenrStates were not ujihealthy, even to 
white men, so long as the forest remained. 
Let all, therefore, who own land enough to 
plant a shrub or tree fail not to phmt one 
before another season, if they have not already 
What shall it be '? 
done so. 
TliE OAK. 
This inquiry led to the consideration of 
the selection of trees for planting, and the 
first named by the essayist was the Oak 
which has been called the King of the 
«I'oko at some lengtli 
of tlie histoncal and poetic associations of 
the Oak, and mentioned several trees n, 
nowned for their size, age, and associations! 
-mos ly .n Bngla„d,-but concluding with 
the celebrated Charter Oak at Hartford 
Com., and the Wadsworth Oak at Oenoseo’ 
N, Y., near the Genesee Biver, in one of the 
most fertile valleys of the Middle States 
The trunk measiuwl t“ee'''att'racted large 
cumference, „vi„cr to Niagara 
numbers of L g essaj’ist had never 
Palls and the West. Th J p,. 
seen so remarkable a spe Missis- 
nny other indigenous tree east ot 
sippi Biver. , most 
The Oak is acknowled e ^ 
pictimesque of trees, ai 
cannot be oxcellec. (Qucrcus 
with the essayist is 11 . . 
alia), of which Mr. Emerson said that B 
beautiful in every stage of gf®"'*''- 
eluded his description of it with these 
“ Let every one who has opportunity t a 
White Oak.” He measured one m Boltoi 
that was nineteen feet in circumference just 
above the surface of the ground, and one in 
Greenfield that was seventeen and a halt 
feet. The one referred to as near the home¬ 
stead of the essayist was about fifteen feet 
in circumference near the surface of the 
ground. The soil best suited to the Oak is a 
strong, tenacious loam. 
THE ELM. 
The next tree named by the essayist was 
the Elm ( TJlmus Americana), which is or was 
formerly a great favorite in New England, 
and especially in Massachusetts and Con¬ 
necticut, where there are still many trees of 
great size, beauty, and gi'andeur. Some of 
the most magnificent specimens are found in 
the valley of the Connecticut Biver, in both 
States. It thrives best in rich, moist ground, | 
such as is found along the banks of large | 
rivers, between 42° and 45° of north lati- | 
tude. The sturdy trunks and graceful boughs 
are unequaled, and it is among the early 
bloomers in spring. It is more easily trans¬ 
planted than the Oak, as it roots nearer the 
surface of the ground. 
THE MAPLE. 
The Sugar Maple (Acer sacchariiinm), like 
the Elm, has long been a favorite shade tree 
in Massachusetts. It is the most notable 
tree of the Maple family. Its foliage is dark 
and beautiful, and free from insect or para¬ 
sites, which cannot be said of the Elm. It 
is indigenously loss common in eastern than 
in middle and Western Massacliusotts. In 
Blandford a Rook Maple is inontioiiod by Mr, 
Emerson that was four feet through near the 
surface and one hundred and eight feet high 
and when cut up i.rodnced seven and a half 
cords of wood. In Amherst, Helchertown, 
8 ockbridge Heerfield, and Sunderland are 
planted double rows of Itock Maples, which 
are inagniheent decorations of the highwavs 
the Sugmr.Maple is indigenous to sweet, rich' 
mountain soil. ’ ' 
Other trees named by the essayist were the 
ory, Black-waliiiit, Moimlnin a i /. 
o( i,„ '■•"''I. "I..., 
than desirable. ’ “'"■'“"h 
KVEIlfmEENS. 
Tlie Evorgroons must not be o«,.,.i i 
•wnong them tlio Cedars, Arbor Vihe A '' .’ 
can Holly, Yew, .Tunipor Whit, P- ’ 
>^l.andthebhmk,w^it.;:ii;:-^^^^ 
way Spruces were named. They are 
as ornamental rather than as shad™”*®^ 
and are best adapted for shelter sev^ 
wind-breaks. For the last named 
the essayist did not hesitate to 
white Pine-tree as best. A white p- 
in Hingham was said, on the authority 
late Bev. J. L. Bussell, professor of Vt 
to the society, to have .measured, at 
two years of age, seven feet in circuinfe™'^^' 
and sixty-two and a half feet in height*^ 
Pitch Pine, Scotch Pine, Norway Pigg 
Norway Spruce, Plemloek, black or do h*/ 
Spruce, white Spruce, American Arbor V't 
and Larch—the last a coniferous tree a d 
rapid grower, though not an Evergreen ^ 
should be included among trees for wi T 
breaks. 
EAISIN& TEEES PEOM OUTTHfQS, 
A few varieties of forest trees, notably the 
Poplars and Willows, are very easily grown 
from cuttings of the wood, and are com- 
monly propagated in this way. The new 
w’ood is used for this piu’pose,— that is, the 
wood of the previous season’s growth. It 
should be cut in November or December, 
before any extreme cold weather occurs, and 
during mild weather when there is no fro.st 
in the wood. 
Keep fresh by putting it away in sand, in 
the cellar, and work up into cuttings during 
stormy weather in the winter. They are 
made by simply cutting the wood with a 
sharp knife, into sections of about eight 
inches in length; then pack them away in 
sand or earth, in shallow boxes, so that the 
upper ends will be exposed to the air. Keep 
in this way until spring when the callus forms 
on the lower end, and they will start more 
quickly into growth than if cut in spiing, 
just before setting them in the ground. 
In planting them out, it is important that 
the loiver ends should have the earth packed 
tightly against them, and to do this success¬ 
fully it is necessary, if planting them in the 
nursery, to open a trench by stake and line, 
or, if in the forest, to throw out a spadeful of 
earth at each place where the cuttings are 
to bo inserted. They should be set deep 
enough so as to cover up the terminal bud. 
Forest Leares. 
PE0TE0TIN& YOUNG EVEEGEEENS. 
All newly planted Evergreen trees mi' 
Iionolited by.winter protootion of their roob^ 
sulliciont to proveiil. the frost from roiu'li'i’b 
to tlioir lower oxtroinitios. With temh'i' mi^ 
baU'-hiirdy kinds this booomos of st>'* 
im|)ortance. It is frequently observed 
in toealitioH wliore large spoeiineiis of 
tain M|)eeies withstand the sovorest 
newly jiluntod trees of the saino 
killod tlio first wintor. In most ciises '' 
is owing to tlio fact tliat the roots 0 
older trooH Imvo peuotriitod 
lino ; a.ntl our young l.roos, if wo 
them live, must have tlio sumo 
providod for them by artiliehil moans'^ 
is, receive sullleioiit mnlchiug to pi®' 
frost IVom roiiehiiig tlioir lower roots. 
With I,ho more tender kinds, th® 
should also bo protootod by loosely 
seine coiirso Evergreen brancdios or 
