The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-05-17
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Tree Planting.


When tie young Harvard graduate, JON
athan Frye.sIeft his hone in Audover, Mass,
in 1925 to serve as chaplain in Lovewell's
expedition against the Pequawkets in this
state, in which he was MORALLY wounded, he
set out near the old mansion young elm
tree, requesting his mother and sister TO take
care OF it until he returned. After the lapse
of one hundred and fifty years, this tree
stands in full vgor one of the largest elms in
New England; so remarkable in size and
form, that an engraving OF it has been pub
lished, copies of which we have seen in this
state. Possibly, his memorial stone may
still tell the stranger the date of his untimely
death; but century and half is apt to
leave the traces of efacing fingers, and we
doubt UGH whether the dull cold marble re-
tains so much of remembrance as the stout
old tree with its "hale and hearty green.''
This is the year of centennials, and every
thing carries us back 10 our fathers; and
while we revive and renew the memories of
their brave and wholesome lives, may it not
be well to look into the future, and see how
down the next century we may hope to carry
our lives and memories? After careful cal
culation of the chances, we must say in all
seriousness, that for majority of us some
special mode of transmission is required, in
order to secure much of an advance in that
direction. However this may be, if we wish
to keep our memories green in the future,
may it not be pleasantly and efectually ac-
complished by our being linked in sweet COM
panionship with the verdurous beauty of the
oak, or elm, or maple?
Just now, the long and dismal winter seems
to be over and past, although we only dare to
speak the words with 'bated BREATH" lest
the stern old Viking return again to triumph
over our premature rejoicing. In the brief
interval between the falling of the last snow
flake, and the first sowing of the seed, there
comes the opportune moment for beginning
the new life of the shade tree. Let us al
then make the most of it-for If this opportu-
nifty is lost, it truly cannot be recalled.
From farmers as class, we do not have
large expectations in this direction, and TO
them therefore, we aake no special appeal,
but to professional men, mechanics, students,
to the old and young Of both sexes, and to
young men and maidens, we say, plant some
kind of tree somewhere, and even seed may
be scattered from the hand of infancy, that
shall hereafter spring up into glorious beauty.
Such appeals are narrowed by no limits
town and country are alike embraced, an
the residents of either need have no solicita-
ton, lest opportunities may be wanting for
the outward manifestation of what may be
truly called this spiritual desire. In the street
or square, the lane or highway, by the church
or school, the hospital or cemetery, there is
yet room. The only marvel is, that SO many
desirable spots still remain unoccupied.
We would not ungraciously forbear to mem
ton with due recognition, the taste and en-
terprise manifested by our western brethren,
in securing the setting apart of holiday for
the special observance of this beautiful Gus
tom. Nor would we diminish in the least
the weight of those considerations which
have been arrayed with so much force, in IA
vor of the positive profits, as well as advan-
tages derived from setting out shade trees.
1t suits us better, however, to suggest to our
reauers, tndL tue Iuu piesSihS VI tni' PiFi
lege is only appreciated and appropriated by
those who pay no regard to the question of
equivalents, aid wfo act wholly from unset
fish motives. Let US then as lovers OF the
race, as friends in communion with nature,
as worshipers at the shrine of the beautiful.
perform this gentle ministry, like priests at a
sacred rite, or like those who bear their vo-
tive offering TO the altar, and thus through
the distant years, there will be "tongues in
the trees" that will not be silent in our praise.