The Southern herald., 1896-11-20

Ehsy laa very uarsriany 60 ne Vsla
- - u--1r

n W. stEere. CarthlEe, IND, before
the Indiana Horticultural socicty spoke
as follows;
In planting t7ees along cur highways
the narrow ruads In many places would
appear as one oi the chief diihcul1es
b Be overcome. ] have been accus-
toned 20 iour-rod roads, as in Aichi-
gan an section line roads are, ny law
Bnd most of the laid-out roads are the
same. This width allows the row ot
trees 10 be planted eight feet from the
fence. giving a nice sidewalk for school
children and calling neighbors, an inn
portant matter on dirt reads. The REM
edy that suggests itself for narrow
roads is to set the row close to the
fence. in the field or out with walk
outside Of Il. In the discussion OF best
kinds I sce that some recommend trlNg |
trees. Experience has repeatedly showH |
that this is a mistake. Where tried, 1
have seen long rows Of cherry trees,
even MorellOes, dead or half dead.
Pears are subject to blight, etc. APP /
pie may be the best. but we who are
old know that their healthy, vigorous |
life. at the longest. quite limited.
In such work il is well to look away
ahead. a generation or 50, to realize
that the trees we plant may not be in
their prime, under 20, 80, 50 or more
years. As 10 kinds. It is a pretty safe
rule to plant natives that flourish in
your own section. Naples are good
most anywhere-sugar maple pre-
ferred, but beware Of too many Of one
kind. Let US remember that we are
planting for the public as well as our
selves, and break the monotony bf in
.terspersing here and there walnut,
tulip poplar, oak, hickory, elm, linden,
ash. blackberry, honest locust box
elder, etc. or a whole row of any " the
best Of these where easily obtained. II
will be noticed that contrary 10 the
common idea, a mixed row may he
beautiful. have seen this verified
where, In clearing land, several kinds
were preserved without trying to have
the row straight, or by trimming mp
a young growth that has sprung mp
along the highway fence. Such was the
case in front Of our own little place in
Michigan. Whatever others thought,
it was very pleasant TO US to have in
plain view white oak, black and red
oak. linden, sassafras, butternut, she'll
bark, pignut, three or four kinds, all
sweet, and one fine bitternut, and last
in a damp soil. one grand, native elm,
in whose dropping branches the hang
bird annually swung his purse. Where
there was loom, put in maple or
chestnut, and in narrower spaces a
white pine o. Norway spruce. would
not, however, recommend chestnut in
most Indiana soils.
No doubt many are preparing to plant
this spring, and should be well in
formed as to distances, kinds, etc,
Would ii not be possible to send a
little circular to the county societies,
giving the proper information? Be
ginners early always want to set too
close, often paying for or digging double
the number needed
New York, after her long experience,
has made 20 feet the legal distance,
and Michigan law says not less than co
feet. These long openings may be
broken for a time with some small
tree or large shrub or evergreen, as dog
wood, service or Juneberry, mulberry,
papaw, red bud, blue beech, black haw,
mountain ash, purple fringe, etc Nur-
sery trees are generally the best rooted.
In any case, set small trees and avoid
tall poles. | have seen beautiful rows of
golden and weeping willows, the latter
not hardy enough here. Lombardy pop
lar, also, should be avoided, as short
lived. There is tree, however, that
| grows like Lombardy that might be
substituted-the Bolena poplar, 1t ap-
pears to be hardy, as does the Carolina
poplar, a very rapid-spreading grower.
Both are found in the nurseries. !
have not mentioned the cucumber tree
which is often beautiful, but ! am not
making a special point of naming the
kinds. Iwould rather desire TO press the
point of not planting too many of any
one kind. Take, for instance, long
stretch of any one kind of maple. The
mOnotony Of SO many trees almost ex.
actly alike may become tiresome, but
if the opposite side of the road has a
different tree, or the row of naples is
suddenly broken by elms, walnuts, lin.
dens or any other kind, you are ready
to throw your hands and cry eureka!
/ have seen this monotony wonderfully
relieved by inserting an occasional ash
elm, wild cherry, or most any other
kind, and you feel like thanking the
thoughtful planter for his care.
/ will close by adding that, could pro
prietors realize the immense increased
value of their farms, made by roadside
planting, probably no other irducement
would be needed