Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1901-04-11
TREES on HIGHWAYS.
gether with Few Friendly Hats
Against Enthusiasn.

Sone S1gxestions for Planting, n.
gether with . Few Friendly Hats
Against Enthusiasn.
Much has been written about trees
for planting along public highways,
but the only thing in view seems to
have been the selection of trees that
would make a cool, refreshing bow
Ier during the summer months and
that would be beautiful to look at
from distance. Beneath q dense
growth of limbs and branches we have
q shade that is welcomed by man and
beast; the same dense growth also
prolongs the sleighing during winter.
and merry spin is enjoyed over the
unmelted snow.
That is all very pleasant; but let US
taste little of the ''bitter with the
sweet" After each shower and storm,
the bower of shade prevents the wind
and sun from drying the road there
under, and we and our beasts have to
contend with mud! mud! mud! In
the spring, when the shadeless parts
OF the highways have been thawed and
become dusty, our summer and winter
delight is still covered with ice, and
the blacksmith must be employed to
sharpen up" the horses, just to get
over few slippery places. The deep,
dense shade is thing of beauty and
delight during sunshiny weather; but
in dark, stormy nights, the pleasant
ness has vanished in a darkness that
would compare favorably with Egyp-
tan blackness, and to go through it
at rate faster than walk would be
almost suicidal.
Trees when crowded usually lose
their lower limbs by dying off, and
users of the highways during windy
| weather pass under thickly-planted
trees ION pins and needless" with the
expectation of being struck by SOME
dead or weakened branch.
Fruit trees have been suggested to
take the place of maple, ash, elm, etc.,
but there is an imperfection in the
scheme. Owners are afraid to risk
their stock of fruit on such trees; it
would be taken for ''public property
by the nearby villagers, or by roughs
of questionable character.
In planting trees on highways these
points should be kept in view: (1) To
improve the general appearance of the
property on which they are located;
(2) to make each tree a specimen
with abundance of space for develop
ing its flowers, foliage and fruit; (3)
while the tree is developing, keep the
lower limbs high enough above the
road to allow load of hay to pass; a.
let the trees take the course that ma.
ture intended-do not s'head in" OF
check growth in any place where it is
not necessary; (5) establish a SOC
about every tree-a little grass seed
raked in once or twice year usually
accomplishes this; (6) select native
trees, if possible are more sure
to grow, stand changes of weather and
are not affected as would be a collec
ton Of exotic kinds; (7) study the
wants of trees selected, and if they
succeed best in sandy, loamy or rocky
soil. give them what they want; most
desirable shade trees grow on variou.
kinds of soil, but the results are not al
ways satisfactory; (s) evergreen tree.
should not be used for street planting
as nature.intended that they should il
most cases be grown in places where
they can retain their low branches;
(9) along narrow roads, tall, slim
growing trees should be chosen, a.
they tend to make the road appear
wider; (10) select durable trees
From carefully prepared notes I fine
that basswoods, butternuts, silver
naples, chestnuts, whitewoods, horse
chestnuts and willows are apt to b,
injured by the heavy winds.-S. D. Fer
riS. in Country Gentleman.