Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-11-04
farm and Garden.
READ At IIE MEETING OF THr srATE noAHn OF
A0RCULrURE IN CHARLOTTE


stand two rock maple trecs-stand as they have
stood longer than know and longer at least than
have lived. They stand In each other embrace, arm
casped with arm, two loving mates famed by the
same zephyr, rocked by the same wind. grecnIng
under the same ,emal suns, goldonng under the
same autumnal frosts dropping their leaves to
cover each others roots glistenipg under the same
covering Of frozen slcct whitencd by the sitting
Of the same shower, aud ready to grow green
again when frost and storm are past
Not only do they break up the winter covering
/ Of brown buds together, but they hang out at the
same time from their branches the green iassc-
Of delicate bloom, and when these spring flowers
/ have matured into winged autumn fruit they send
down their flying seeds and scatter their children
Of coming years upon the same soil They seem
to be in each others secret each plcdging to do rs
does the other But while they live for each
other they have a blessing Of shade and beauty
/ for every one that passes by As go ont under
their sholteung arms they wave and drop BEN
| ediction upon me ~ come in they heckon and
| CLEAN a welcome Unspolen Il an is hut none
I the less real and hearty to me. Shall need TO
acknowledge that my love goes ont to these loving
ones and that long to share the secrets they con-
fdc So freely To- each othet2
/ IN my longing entroat them To- tell me how they
know when to shake of the brown scale. as tho
/ spring suns become warm. 10 tell me the innu-
encos that quicken their living sap, covered though
the trunk be with it, coat Of furrowed bark. 60
I disclose how the life is maintained when all is
frozen around how the hud-Nnpped leaves open
and grow how they get strong and green in the
sunlight and thicSen and mature as autumn comes
/ how the same leaves that chung 20 branch through
I wind and storm drop their hold when they WILL
and go down to the dust from whence they sprung
This and what these leaves have done for the trees
an the summer long, ! have lon.cd 90 know
Yet they are Nocclcss, or ldonut comprehend their
words
/ But while they have been without speech their
acts have been eloquent, and what they have con-
/ veyed To me- what have learned. or think have
/ learned, wish 10 tell
It ismy purpose during Che space allotted me
this evening To direct your Thought 90 tine t1rss
I which in the summer were in their grccnncss and
recently were so gorgeous boo their tint- but are
now dead under the snow. / do this, not with
the expectation 81 saying anything specially new,
but that when they are with o. again IN their ful-
ness Of shadow and richness ot green, we may to-
gethcr recognize their office, and look with new
reverence to- the Power that uses such simple
/ means To- accomplish such wondrous results
How shall set this matter before you that You
may see it as do' Perhaps need mot attempt
this, as the light in which view this may not DE
the true light Yet let me attempt TO bring you
as near as possible to my point of observation.
II You should ask what is the origin of the leaf
I would answer that according to my Thought, it
is originally little fold or expansion Of the inner
bark Of the plant or tree. We know that If Nc
cut away the red or russell thc gray or brown
outer bark OF a tWig, we come to % green or true
bark before reaching the wood. It is as think,
this inner bark Topped upon the branch that
forms the leaf It's this little fold of inucrti-suc
So simple n its original shape, that develops into
the myriad forms which give each tree and shrub
and plant form of foliage peculiarly its own
this simple organ, little fold, transforming itself
into the most complex and manifold forms.
The essential structure of leaf is wooden
frame braced and ntcrlaced and filled with
moist cell tissue, and over all is stretched film
or skin Of empty cells, pierced with many holes
and often roughened by projecting hairs.
A. the building is boarded up and filled in, so
is the leaiy frame packed in with moist, and then