The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1901-04-19
TREES ON HIGHWAYS.
Some suggestions for Planting, To-
Eether with n Few Friendly Hints
Against Enthusiasm.

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 cooS refreshing bow
er during the summer months and
that would be beautiful to look at
from distance. Beneath a dense
growth of limbs and branches we have
shade that is welcomed by man and
beast; the same dense growth also
prolUngs the sleighing during winter,
and merry spin is enjoyed over the
unmelted snow.
That is all very pleasant; but let US
taste a 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
y
dense shade is a thing of beauty and
delight during sunsh1ny weather; but
in dark, stormy nights, the pleasant
hess has vanished in a darkness that
would compare favorably with Egyp-
tan blackness, and to go through it
at a rate faster than a 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 thicllly-planted
trees ''on 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: (D 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 it's flowers, foliage and fruit; (3)
while the tree is developing, keep the
| lower limbs high enough above the
road to allow a load of hay to pass; a.
! let the trees take the course that ma
ture intended-do not ''head in OF
| check growth in any place where it is
not necessary; 90 establish a soc
about every tree-a little grass seed
raked in once or twice a year usually
accOmplishes this; co. select native
trees, if possible-they are more sure
to grow, stand changes of weather and
| are not affected as would be a collec
| ton of exotic kinds; O. study the
! wants of trees selected, and if they
| succeed best in a sandy, loamy or rocky
| soil, give them what they want; most
| desirable shade trees grow on various
kinds of soil, but the results are not al
| 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; GO) select durable trees
From carefully prepared notes 1 fine
! that basswoods, butternuts, silver
| naples, chestnuts, whitewoods, horse
| chestnuts and willows are apt to be
| injured by the heavy winds.-S. d. Fer
! riS, in Country Gentleman.