The Opelousas courier., 1895-01-12
FARM AND GARDEN.
TREES FOR HIGHWAYS.
annie and Pear Trees Might Be Pianteo
to 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 over
and the fruit. Can they be preserved
from mutilation by persons climbing
and beating them for fruit? nave
been surprised to observe how very
little damage of this sort Is cone 10
apple trees standing along a very
much travelled road. When the fruit
ripens in summer It is mostly
by am and travellers, but the trees
are not injured. 1 think the fruit is
mostly allowed to fall Oft. l kno"
other places wlie.:e cherry trees are
very freely planted in tic highway.
The fruit is frequently taken, but the
trees seem quite as wholesome as those
in the gardens. In the south perslIn-
mons and wild pluirs grow by the
roadside, and not seldom aprlccts ana
peaches. They are respected about as
much as those inside Enclosures. Lon
don tells lis that the cherry is USED
very freely in Germany and all over
Eurone for avenues. ''In some oun
tries the road passes for miles together
through an venue of cherry trees. III
'Moravia the road from Rrnnn to
Dl,nr!ts passes through such an avenue
extending Upwards Of sixty mlle&
The venue in GerrlaE+ are nov
only for shading the traveller hu
that the poor pedestrian may cbtainl
r~efreshment. All persons are allowedS
to partaAe Of the cherries on condition
of not injuring the trees, but the main
crop of cherries is gatfieied by the
proprictors of the land on which they
grow. When these are anxious to pre-
serve the fruit of any particular tree,
q wisp of straw Is tied in a conspicuous
part. So grapes in France are pro
tected by s%prinkling a plant with lime
water, leaving white blotcbes on the
leaves. Everyone who has travelled OF
the continent in the fruit season must
have observed the respect that IS PAID
to these appropriating marks. There
seems to be a general tendency in
human nature to defy bounds and get
over fences, but to return confluence
for confidence. The original removal
of fences has done nothing to increase
marauding, but has worked to the con-
trarv. But there should be an element
of positive generosity IN such tree
planting. an intention to share to
some extent with hungry travellers.
There are some of our fr:tt trees Pc
euliar]y adapted to street planting.
For a narrow lane there could be Moth
ing better than tlss Ruffam pear
which grows very erect, like Il I'nnl-
hardy poplar. In the selection OF APP
pie trees, those that spread low, like
the Greening, are unsuitable; while
the Astrachan and Northern Spy are
peculiarly adapted to such PURPOSES.
There Is q sweet apple Of delicious
quality called the Rag apple. that has
a must decided upward growth. Among
the plums, Washington aud Goes
Golden Drop are good upright grow
ers, while such as Green Gage and
Pond would be toe spreading. 1t Is
very important to understand these
points and observe them in any effort
to use fruit trees in the streets. Nut
trees are equally desirable, but not
any better for shade if Judgment is
used in the selection of kinds. ] know
a most charming avenHs Of seeding
apple trees, In flower it Is 3 sight
worth 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 ad-
vantage Of these trees is, they are
ferry clean and healthy,
4 farmer rot far from here has care
fully staked trees that esme up along
a retired roadway, and grated them.
He gathers heavy crops from the
street, but passers-by also help them
selves freely. There arc many places
where the street may be thus utilized
for profit. That onr people would re-
spect the owners MARKS and reserve
trees for his special use is not likely
We are not yet educated to such our
tesy. Would not fruit growing in the
streets educate us in that line"-E. P.
Pewe11. in Prairie Farmer.