The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-08-20
ORCHARDS. sY THE ROADSIDE.
Thsy Are Common In Europe and Sources
Of Public Revenue.


Of Public Revenue.
Land is not yet 50 rare in this country
that we are obliged to cultivate that
along the borders Of our highways, but
tho time 10 not far distant when condj.
tions here in this respect will more
nearly approximate those Of older coun-
tries than they do at present, and We
may learn q lesson from the thrift Of
some OF those '%e6ete despotisms." In
an article in La Nature paris, March
14), Emmanuel Ratouin tells how the
roadsides in many parts Of Germany
have been made to yield rich return to
the state or to municipalities by being
planted with fruit trees. We translate
part OF his article below:
I'm foreign countries orchards Of
huittrees along the roads have given the
best results. In Wurtemberg, Saxony,
Bavaria, Hanover, the grand duchy of
Luxembourg and in Austria the fruit
tree roads have brought in important
sums to the treasury. In Saxony the
fruit tree budget is especially satisfac-
tory, and the benefit realized by The
state under this head has been esti-
mated as nearly 2,o0O,0 900 francs (S40o,-
000) for the past IA years.
In Wurtenlberg the planting of for
est trees along the roads has been en-
tirc)y given ZIP. A law has been passed
applying to Ill fruit orchards and sys-
tematizing their working. The owner
of the neighboring land takes charge of
the orchard, and the road official sees to
their protection and care. This service
ia very we'll organized and does it's work
economically. It has been established
under almost identical condition in
the Palatinate and in Bavaria. In these
localities each roadsman has his CORE.
spending 'sylvicultor.' Every facility
is given to these agents for increasing
their agricultural knowledge. They
are placed under the surveillance OF
their rural inspectors, who direct their
labors. This, special corps is recruited,
in part, by competition. These road
sylvicultors' pass an examination and
follow courses of instruction. They
sometimes are given the necessary
funds to complete their studies.
"The course of study that is offered at
Lapdschut, in Basse Riviere, has given
the opportunity of enlisting men espe-
cially adapted for the care Of trees. In
Austria, Moravia and Bohemia the or
chard roads, which are very numerous,
are in general planted with plum trees.
Inthese fertile plains there are orchards
of considerable size along the borders Of
the roads. The trees are set about six
meters 10 2-3 feetapart; they are the
object of exceptional care, and it is not
rare to see, especially in the region of
Hradisch, young apple trees covered
with straw up to the middle of their
trunks. The old apple trees are care
fully cleaned and painted with white
wash to preserve them from moss and
from fungold growths. At Dressing, in
Moravia, along the roads the acacia al.
ternates with the cherry and the aplpe.
I'm the Tyrol, where the culture OF
fruit trees is highly appreciated, the
road orchards are numerous. It is not
unusual to find in these regions, esre.
cially at Hoffgarten, orchards of 1000 to
5000 apple and pear trees. And not only
are the carriage roads utilized thus, but
the railway companies have fallen into
line. Many Of them have planted the
edges of their entertainments and the
spaces left between their tracks ard
the neighboring properties.
The efforts made by foreign nations
in this matter of road orchards can
scarcely be described without speaking
Of the grant duchy of Gutenberg,
which. is the chosen land Of the fruit
tree. The efforts made by the govern
ment of the grand duchy to develop
fruit culture are most interesting and
remarkable. Nowhere have resources
been better employed and encourage
ments better distributed. The state
has established an agricultural service,
which has for its special object the fos-
tering of agricultural work, and the di.
rection and execution of most of such
public work as the planting of fruit
trees, drainage, irrigation, experiment
stations, the establishment of roads
etc" -Literary Digest.
Blacklight.
Such is the name given by NJ. Gustave