Arizona republican., 1891-06-17
TREES ON THE ROADSIDE.
For Shade, Utility and Beauty Fruit Trees
 Are Recommended. hA.


 For Shade. Utility and Beauty Fruit Trees
 Are Recommended. ".
 That eminent horticulturist, the late Dr. John A. Warder of Cincinnati, on his return from an extended tour through Germany, Austria, Hungary and Poland, never tired of pralsing the beauty and utility of the roadside fruit trees of those countries. If we recolect aright the example was set by Peter the Great of Russia, who was a great lover of trees. His theory was always to con- bine pleasure with business. He thought shade tree should pay its way and give fruit as we'll as to look pretty. It should cast its welcome shade on the traveller and refresh him with cooling, lucious fruit. He caused fruit trees to be planted along the national highways and made obligatory on land owners to plant them along other highways and to care for them and to set apart certain trees for the use of travellers. It is to be regretted that all land owners on this coast are not like Peter the Great in this particu- lar. His example has been followed un- til the highways of central Europe are nearly continuously lined with noble trees giving both fruit and shade to the traveller free. This affords a source of wealth to the land owners also. The trees occupy land that could not be used for other purposes.
 A roadway 60 feet wide with 90 feet in the middle-ample space--leaves 15 feet for fruit trees, shrubs and flowers on either side. This leaves five feet pathway for pedestrians. This plan can be modified in numerous way. A 60 foot roadway would give room for car riage way, foot paths, two tranways, and fruit trees. An 80 foot roadway will provide still greater uses and con- fort. This may seem Utopian. Yet it is exactly as all roadways should be in an old and wealthy country. What coun- try on earth can give such chances for beautiful highways as most parts of this coast. In many places the trees would give fresh fruits and nuts on every day of the year. Imagine a few such grand highways lined with fruit and nut trees on both sides running through our great valleys, an hundred feet wide with steel rails on either side for heavy freighting, perfect carriage way in the centre and foot path also. Let it be canopied with trees, watered by perennial streams of mountain water Cherries, pears, ap- pies, plums, walnuts, oceans, oranges, peaches, nectarines, almonds - every thing in its season. Even dates in many localities, with now and then palm, cedar, sequoia, gum and what not for variety. And have feeders on the same plan on smaller scale through lateral valleys. What glorious country and landscape it would make with avenues straight and curved stretching over broad hills and up the rugged mountain sides.
 In central Europe the almost universal roadside tree is the cherry. It is better adapted for that purpose there than any other fruit tree. Next comes the pear, which is said to be the shade tree in most general us in central Rus sia. Here on this coast we have a much greater assortment. However, thc SIcily d.iu pcdi Wouih bV dLioIlS tuc best for the purpose. What magnificent trees are found in the walnut family. The native and Eastern black walnut, the English walnut, the pecan and the hickory. The persimmon, the spreading olive, the pomegranate and the lemon On some of the roadsides of this coast anything and everything could be grown to perfection. At Monterey and Santa Barbara are examples, but even they are mere infants in the line of planting and tree growing in comparison with what might be done. "
 What good reason is there for plant ing trees for shade or ornament that are not fruit trees? Why waste rich soil, | sunshine and water on such unremuner- ative, homely, stinking things as the gums and pepper trees and the like when we could plant fruit trees which | would be constant source of income. These would eventually make fuel and timber. The pear, walnut, cherry and | apple are all woods of value. Some vari. cities of the fig are among the grandest of trees for shade and fruit, good alike for man, beast or fowl. What are gum trees good for except to ruin the beauty of the landscape, rob everything near ;,,@ a1o