om the
stand-point of an acorn, as being a typical nut or tree-bearing seed,
such as I now hold in my hand.

"This tiny nut, with such a smooth hard shell of polished brown,
contains a kernel with magical possibilities. Within this kernel,
closely packed and safely cradled, lies the embryo oak. So small and so
insignificant is this nut, that one may travel for months over land and
sea, with the possible ancestor of a half-dozen future oak-forests
snugly tucked away in some inside pocket. This, too, without ever once
receiving a demand from the lynx-eyed custom officials, for the payment
of either import or export duties upon it. Half way round the globe,
from the spot occupied by its parent tree, this highly-polished,
much-traveled nut, if given the proper conditions, will at once commence
the mysterious transformation process, which marks the beginning of the
life and growth of another oak tree. This growth, under favorable
circumstances, may continue for the historical period of ten centuries.
Ministering meanwhile, to the needs of forty passing generations of
people. Reproducing itself, perhaps a million times in the aggregate, by
the enormous annual crops of acorns it may have borne. What a history of
marvels, is the history of such a growth! As it is with the oak, so it
is in a large measure, with all other trees which are produced from
seeds.

"This fascinatingly mysterious process of passing from seed to
plant,--from passive to active life, we have watched with keen interest
and growing pleasure, as from week to week, in the seed beds and nursery
rows of our tree-garden, it has steadily progressed, under the varying
conditions of sunshine and storm. Having reached a suitable size for
transplanting, we have this morning commenced the actual work of tree
planting, by carefully placing the young trees in the proper soil and
location, where they may complete the sturdy growth they have so well
begun. The preparatory work, we began some months ago, when as
individuals, we selected the three trees, of some one chosen variety,
which we especially desired to plant in forest formation, on the
occasion of this festival.

"By the months of thoughtful care and attention which we have given to
these trees, we have gained a personal interest in them which we cannot
lose. In this initiative work, I am convinced that we have wisely
established such a broad foundation of general interest in forestry and
kindred topics, that s