St. Landry democrat., 1879-06-21
Tree Planting.
tNcv Orleans Times.

There is nothing which adds more to
the beauty and attractlveness OF town
or CITY than fine shade trees. Iney are
hoth ornamental and useful. In the
summer season. when clothed Ill all OF
their wealth of foliage, they have d de-
lightfuily cool and inviting appearance,
and when judiciously scattered along
hot and dusty streets, they rob the rays
of the sun ofhalf of their terrors: They
also serve the purposes Of health in an
eminent degree. They are IL sort OF
natural laboratory, and through their
leaves absorb from the atmosphere the
Doisonous carbonic acid gas, and in 1c-
turn increase the volume OF health
giving oxygen.
. OF the practical benefit of trees there
can OF course, be no question. 1t has
been satisfactorily demonstrated that
their absence is the cause of the drOuths
which almost annually occur on the
great prairies aud plains of the West,
and so important is it deemed that trees
should be planted in those sections Of
the country where there arc 10 forests,
that the government offers special i'll
ducements to plant them to those who
take up homesteads on public lands.
Of course, the reason for planting
trees on the droughty plains Of the
West are different from those for plant
ing them in cities, but they are just as
potent, and the benefits derived from
trees in cities are just as great us those
from trees on the plains, although they
may not be of the same Kind. Within
the last few years great attention has
been given to the planting OF trees i'll
towns and cities.
In almost all the newly laid outtovns
of the West especial provision Is made
for shade trees, and, in Older towns,
where there has been neglect and care
lessness in this respect, there is a grow
Ing disposition to plant trees. People
who live on we'll shaded stIeetG are hap
pier than those who live where there are
no trees, and whose houses are exposed
to the glare Of the sun. They find pleas
ure in the music u The birds, and the
presence of the feathered songsrcrs Is
the source of very considerable amount
of enjoyment. The air seems treShcr
and cooler, aud al the surroundings
have u more comfortable and inviting
look.
There is not enough attention paid to
tic Planting OF trees in this city. In
some OF the streets there is plenty OF
shade it is true, bnt how many streets
are there where there is not Il single
tree! \ year or so ago the city govern
ment undertook to establish n system
of tree planting. Several thousands
of trees were purchased and planted out
on Canal street. They We're either not
the right kind of trees or else they were
not properly planted, for many of them
died aid very few OF them are growing
well.
Perhaps the best tree for this soil and
climate is the swamp oak. 1t grows
well, is hardy and pretty, and in a few
years after being set out furnishes Il
fine shade. There prevails an admirable
practice in some OF the Western cities.
The scholars OF each school at the end
of the school year plant Il tree, either in
the school grounds or somewhere in the
vicinity. OF course this wonld be Il
very slow way TO secure shade for a city,
hut it has the effect OF creating a liking
for trees, and Of attracting attention to
their Importance and necessity.
Our city government ought to set
apart small fuId for the planting each
year. Trees ought to be planted all
along our principal avenues and streets,
and along the she'll roads. If this We're
done the city, in a few years, would be
wv ice DIS DtdutiIuI itt ittidCttSt, IL, Ii
is now. People who own property, es-
peciaily in the upper portion Of the city,
ought to set out trees iii front of their
residences. They might not live to
enjoy the fruits of their abors, but they
ourSht TO he willing to do something for
those who are to follow them. It is not
now the season of the year +"r planting
tress, but the season is not far off, ana
when it arrives, it is to be hoped that
both the city government and the own
ers 6f real estate will give attention to
this important matter.