The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-01-12
FARM AND GARDEN.
TREES FOR HIGHWAYS.
Apple and Pear Trees Might BE Pla mt sd
Good Advantage.

Apple and Pear Trees Might BE Planted
to Good Advantage.
The use of fruit trees in highways is
not for shade only, but for the flowers
and the fruit. Can they be preserved
from lnutilation by persons climbing
and beating them for fruit? / have
been surprised to observe how very
little damage Of this sort is done to
apple trees standing along very
much travelled road. When the fruit
ripens in summer it is mostly taken
by tralnps and travellers. but the trees
are not injured. 1 think the fruit is
mostly allowed to fall off. 1 know
other places where CHER trees are
very freely planted il the highway.
The fruit is frequently taken, but the
trees seem quite as wholesome as those
in the gardens. In the south persin-
mons and wild plums grow by the
roadside. and not seldom apricots and
peaches. They are respected bout a s
much as those inside enclosures. Lon
don tells us that the cherry is used
very freely in Germany and all over
Europe for avenues. I'm some coun-
tries the road passes for miles together
through an avenue of cherry trees. In
Moravia the road from Brnnn to
Olnutz passes through such an avenue
extending upwards of sixty miles.
The avenues in Germany are not
only for shading the traveller but
that the poor pedestrian may obtain
refreshment. All persons are allowed
to partake Of the cherries on condition
of not I'M uring the trees. but the main
crop of cherries is gathered by the
proprfetors of the land on which they
grow. When those are anxious to pre-
serve the fruit OF any particular tree,
q wisp of stra w is tied in a conspi cuous
part. So grapes in France are Pro-
tected by sprinkling plant with lime
water, leaving white blotches on the
leaves. Everyone who has travelled on
the con tinent in the fruit season mast
have observed the respect that is paid
to these appropriate MARKS. There
seems to be general tendency in
human nature to defy bounds and get
over fences. but TO return confidence
for confidence. The original removal
of fences hos done nothing to increase
mara uding. but has worked to the con-
trary. But there should be al element
of positive generosity in such tree
planting. an intention to share to
some extent with hungry travellers.
There are some of our fruit trees pc
culiarIy adapted to street planting.
For a narrow lane there could be moth
ing better than the Buffam pear
which grows very erect, like a Ionl-
hardy poplar. In the selection of APP
pie trees. those that spread low like
the Greening. arc unsuitable: while
the AStracnan ana NOrtnefn spy arc
peculiarly adapted to such purposes.
There is a sweet apple Of delicious
quality called the Rag apple. that has
most decided upward growth. Among
the plume, Washington and Gee S
Golden Drop are good upright grow
ers. while such as Green Gage and
Pond would be too spreading. 1t is
very important to understand these
points and observe them in any e fort
to use fruit trees in the streets. $ut
trees are equally desirable. but not
any better for shade if judgment is
used in the selection of kinds. l. know
a most charming avenue of seeding
apple trees. In flower it is n sight
wort1, travelling miles to see. There
are shades from pure white TO very
deep red. In fruit. these are apples
only fit for cider, and other sorts quite
acceptable to pedestrians. The adj
vantage of these trees is. they are
very clean and healthy.
A farmer not far from here has care
fully staked trees that came up along
Il retired roadway. and grated them
He gathers heavy crops from the
street. but passers-by also help them
selves freely. There are many pia ces
where the street may be thus utilized
for profit. That our people would re-
spect the owners MARKS and receive
tree1 for his special use is not likely.
We NJ e not vet educated to such cour-
tesy. Would not fruit growing in the
streets educate us in that line:-E. T.
Powell. in Prairie Farmer.
STEAM ROAD WAGc n.