Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-05-12
agricultural department.
SHADE TREES.

With all the spring planting no
one should omit setting out few
good shade trees where they are most
needed. The principal varieties may
be transplanted in the spring as soon
as the frost is fairly out of the ground,
and before the buds begin to swell.
1t would seem quite unnecessary to
say anything in favor of shade trees
were it not that so many farms and
country homes are almost destitute of
this luxury, which can obtained at
little cost of time and money. While
few OF none, fail to appreciate the
advantages to be derived from an
abundance Of shade, many neglect to
take the first steps to secure its bene-
fits. Where trees are found standing
around a house or along 4 fence
they are often the result of chance
arrangement, and as such often do
more harm than good. A half de-
cayed, i'll shapen tree is an unsightly
object anywhere.
But nothing "sets OFF, farm and
throws over it and all its surroundings
an air of general comfort, thrift and
prosperity so much as number of
shade trees judiciously arranged
around the dwellings, in the fields and
along the roadside. They betoken
good taste and q love for something
more attractive and beautiful than
open fields and stock and barns. The
ideal country home is always "em-
powered in cool foliage" where the
birds sing and the shadows play upon
the grass in the hot summer days.
Here too the farmer and his men re-
cline at noon for rest and refresh
ment. 1t is pity that such a pic
ture must be so often spoiled by con-
trast with reality. Something very
near the ideal does exist, but such
homes are not found as often as they
ought to be. The reality is very often
an implanted farmhouse standing
close by the dusty roadside, its small
windows and weather-beaten sides
open to view on every side, blistering
under the heat, from the cellar walls
to the messy shingles on the roof.
The rooms are filed with dry, sitting
air, place repellant to the tired la
borer from the field, and cherries
and comfortless to those who are
obliged to remain within the walls the
whole day.
How easy to change all this in a
few years by planting around the
house the maple and the locust.
Even a poor, implanted building may
be given 4 cheefuI, cosy, homelike
appearance in a setting Of fine shade
trees.
The "wide-spreading tree" is not
only thing Of beauty but of useful
ness. In fact there is more to be
said of it on the side of its utility
than of its ornamental value. Thai
collectively they bear an important
relation to the rainfall of q country
has been pretty we'll settled by re
cent discussion. That they hay,
a marked and beneficial influence up
on the general hoalthfulness of
community is also beyond question
There may be too much shade clos
to a dwelling, but there is seldom an
excess in this direction.
In setting out trees around a farr
the comfort and thrift of live stoc
should be q matter of consideration
In pastures trees can be set out
groups, especially where the field
are to remain permanently in grass
Some should remain around spring
and along water courses, and Other
on the higher points where the stoc
may lie in the shade. 1t is nothin
less than neglect and cruelty, thong
it may be unintentional, to put an
kind of stock in an enclosed fiel
where there is no refuge afforde
from the burning heat of summe
Pasture land might almost as well |
devoid Of water as of shade. An
the latter cannot be left to chan(
any more thar the former. Eyel
farmer may have as many fine ire
rs he needs even if he is not able
have fine buildings and blooded stool