American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-01-09
Shade Trees on the Farm.

THE contrast between two regions of
country, the one with trees judiciously
distributed and the other without them,
is sufficient in itself to make any man
favor the former. The generally attract
i've appearance of a country is certainly
one of its strong points, and mankind
cling to things of beauty quite as tena-
ciOusly as to those of strict usefulness
and intrinsic value. Nomadic races sell
dom inhabit billy, mountainous or wooded
countries, for these tend directly to a
fixedness of purpose and love of one
spot which we term home. A rock, hill
or tree is an object which clings to the
memory of both civilized and uncivilized
man. This idea may seem somewhat
sentimental, but it cannot be denied that
it is very potent in its influence upon
nations as well as communities.
A goodly number of shade trees about
the farm buildings add much to the gen.
eral appearance of the place, as also to
the comfort of man and beast during
the hot days of summer. But many
make the mistake of planting too many
large growing trees near their dwellings,
which in time exclude both light and air
and cause the buildings standing con-
stantly in the shade to become unhealthy
In cold climates deciduous trees should
always be preferred to evergreens, when
planted in positions likely to shade the
house, because it is only in hot weather
that shade is desirable, and in winter all
the light and solar heat to be obtained
are required for both comfort and health.
larger growth at least 100 feet from a
Westinghouse, using the intervening
space as a lawn, in which may be planted
small growing trees and shrubs. Ever
green trees should be employed exclu-
sively for OrnamentatiOn or as wind
breaks, but never for shade.
1t has been frequently urged that trees
IN pastures encourage laZiness in ami
mails, for when such comfortable re-
treats from the hot sun in summer are
at hand they are likely to tarry too long
at these resting places. While it is true
that animal instinct may not be any
surer preventive against indiscretions in
the dumb brute than in man, still we
believe that in all ruminants digestion
proceeds more regularly when the ami
NAL is comfortably at rest than when
subjected to opposite conditions. Ami
mails appear to be disposed to seek the
cool shade of tree when the heat is
oppressive, and it is cruel, to say the
least, to deprive them of this comfort.
We have always noticed that animals
having a comfortable resting place dur
ing the hottest part of the day would
feed later at night as well as commence
earlier in the morning; consequently we
fail to see wherein shade trees in
pasture are detrimental to good health
or the fattening of animals, as is some
times asserted. There are certainly two
sides to this question, but the more
humane practice would be to provide
shade, to say nothing of appearances.
Continuous rows of stately trees along
the roadside add much to the appear
ance of farm or country. But it is
urged that shaded roads remain wet and
muddy much longer after heavy rains
than those fully exposed to the sun. This
is doubtless true, but as an offset we
become dusty, and between the two
evils there is not much choice. Decidu
Gus trees only should be planted along
roadsides in cold climates, because they
afford shade during the season when
most needed if at all. Roadside trees
may also interfere with the growth of
crops in the fields adjoining by shading
as well as by the absorption of moisture
by their roots, but as we can scarcely Sc
cure anything of value without some loss
perhaps the pleasure derived from pass
ing over shady road during the hot
weather in summer as well as the beau
tiful appearance of such highways more
than compensates for the slight losses
which they entail.-N. T. Sun
Mrs DEAN, the wife of a Baptist mis-
sionary in Siam, has the satisfaction of
knowing that her petition, signed by
most of the European ladies at Bangkok,
praying for the abrogation of the law
which allows man to pawn his wife
and children into slavery in payment of
IA debt contracted by opium or
gambling, has been favorably received
by the young King and that this I'M
natural privilege will probably be taken
from the Siamese gentry.
ACCORDING to IA Paris letter hundreds
of American mothers are there, seeking
titled Frenchmen for their daughters |
The old ladies doubtless think that if they
must add a fool or two to their families
they may as well have the blOHded kind. |