The Van Buren press., 1896-11-14
TREES FOR ROADSlDES
They Add Very Materially to the Value
of Farm Lands.

or Farm Lands.
II. w. Steere, Carthage, Ind, before
the Indiana Horticultural society spoke
as follows:
In planting trees along our highways
the narrow roads in many places would
appear as one of the chief difficulties
to be overcome. | KAYE been aceus-
toned to four-rod roads, as in Michi-
gan all section line roads are, by law,
and most of the laid-out roads are the
same. This width allows the row of
trees to be planted eight feet from the
fence, giving nice sidewalk for school
children and calling neighbors, an inn
portant matter on dirt roads. The rem
edy that suggests itself for narrow
roads is to set the row close to the
fence, in the field or cut, with walk
outside of it. In the discussion OF best
kinds | see that some recommend fruit
trees. Experience has repeatedly shown
that this is a mistake. Where tried, |
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 it is well to look away
ahead, a generation or so, to realize
that the trees we plant may not be in
their prime, under 20, so, 80 or more
years. AS to 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 by in
terspersing here and there a walnut
tulip poplar, oak, hickory, elm, linden,
ash, blackberry, honest locust, box
elder, etc, or a whole row of any of the
best of these where easily obtained. It
will be noticed that contrary to the
common idea, 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 up
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 damp soil, one grand, native elm,
in whose dropping branches the hang
bird annually swung his purse. Where
there was loom, | put in a 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 it 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 70 feet the legal distance,
and Michigan law says not less than co
feet. These long openings may be
broken for 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
grows like Lombardy that might be
substituted-the Bolena poplar. 1t APP
pears to be hardy, as does the Carolina
poplar, very rapid-spreading grower
Both are found in the nurseries.
have not mentioned the cucumber tree
which is often beautiful, but | am not
making n 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, a long
stretch of any one kind of maple. The
monotony Of SO many trees almost ok
actly alike may become tiresome, but
if the opposite side of the road has q
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 inducement
would be needed.
| ORCHARD AND GARDEN.