Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-13

what would otherwise be charming
shrubbery To be sadly mutilatcd Dy
close cropping with the shears che
Of the charms of winter shrubbery -
it's long, graceful branches waving III
the wind. To stump these on ihto
punches of bristles is one OF the coi"-
mon faults even of otherwise good gar
denerS.
Along that section Of the Atlantic
Coast Line below Washington ~hich
includes a part Of the Richmond, freu-
ericksburg 4 Potomac Railroad good
deal OF work has been done quite re-
Gently In the way of improving the
grounds of important stations. AS yet
this is chiefly confined to the use OF
bedding plants and grass. but even
this is marked advance over former
conditions in the South.
The Georgia Centre Railroad at one
time did "A great deal of excellent
planting on station grounds. In fact,
il was one of the pioneers, If not the
very first, in this line of work, ana It's
advanced position in this was que
largely to the efforts of n former presi-
dent. With his retirement the WORK
fell off, and latterly the old plantations
have been subjected to the regulation
and abhorred cropping.
Other roads which are awakening to
the advantage of having attractive
grounds are the Lake Shore, which has
in addition planted spruces and other
trees along it's line in places to act as
wind breaks; the Illinois Central.
which has done some good work
around Chicago; the Southern Pacific.
much of il crude; the Rock Island
Railroad and the Chicago & North
western at principal stations.
Some Western roads are Furthermore
beginning 10 plant timber trees along
their right Of way. and although the
primary motive for this action Is utlll-
tartan. namely To furnish supply Of
tie timber ready 10 hand, and 70 act as
wind break and snow barrier. Yet
the aesthetic cna Is also achieved. IL
has long been The practice on the I'M
portant English roads to preserve
carefully the tree ana shrub growth
beside the roadbed, especially nj cx-
posed points ana along tn. sides OF
cuttings Hedges also are In greater
favor than wire fencing. Raw banks
Of gravel are never seen there. When
cutting is made the loan is first re-
moved and carefully saved later To he
spread upon the banks 10 uniform
depth. and grasses and vines are
planted upon It, There are sound engi-
neering reasons for all this. This
roadside tree and lesser woody growth
is protected and encouraged To- AFFORD
wind break. ON Il windy day a train
running out into a piece Of exposed
81. 4 In
speed. since steam falls of almost 1T
once on cncountcring a high wind. ana
the nangrs of the wheels are forced
unduly against tn" rails. fireman
always selects = cut oT uih-rWis. sh-l-
tered point Tor firing whenever posi-
bic Thus care for tn. growth along
the line serves both practical and
| aesthetic ends. Section men in West
| ern railroads often grow crops OF corn
| in the right-uf- WAY. ANA this. Will"
utilitarian in intent, seems 70 hide the
| swampS ana bitches.
Ii has been shown that the American
| railroads. or many az them AT least
are trying 10 accomplish m,thint Ill
| IN" gardening line. ANA ii has also been
| shown that the failures in most asses
are due not 10 a grudgiug sappiy III
| money for the purpose. 50 much as to
| n lack Of plan ana system. ana COM
| potent supervision. The cropping Work
| of the amateur is costly in tins cuI. ana
! usually unsatisfactory in result. there
| fore. 4 roads first step in 4 u.uVrnt. ~
| for better conditions along these lines
, should be the employment of a Coinpr-
| tent professional adviser. This man
| should have charge Of all srtd.n-s Wort.
| around stations, ana If possible Oh the
| banks along the line rs well. for upon
| proper grating depends much of the
! success of the planting design. he
! should also be asked To advise ;S to tne
! location of all new stations.
That the cost of such WORT. need not
| be excessive is testified IL by So pracIi-
cal ana experienced a railroad man as
| Mr.. LouVIlle curtis. roadniaster of II,
Boston X Names western division. lie
believes that much of the rough work
at least could he done by section I.rn
willingly late i'm the fail or early III
| spring. when there Is little track work
| that can be done. He urges. however,
| that il would be necessary to h:;N"
such worl, carried out under the nd
vice Of thoroughly competent man.
| Mr.. Curtis mas considerable ability and
| no little taste in such matters himself,
and has done more or lass along his
| division from time to time.
| After the appointment OF a landscape
| architect. the roads next move
| would probably he to locate Il nurse ~
of its own. Here many OF III. plants
| to to needed IN futur" work could he
| grown from seed. and here could i,e
| store! such collected stock as MAS not
! immediately required for permanent
plantations. In most cases il would
dOaLt!css he found cheapest. most sue
ccssful and in the best taste TO use
native shrubs. which are fully adapted
to local conditions. Such plants can be
had in many localities for the digging.
and the variety is altogether sufficient i,
In some cases all that is needed to
make a station attrao tive or to improve
the scenic condition OF the right of
way. is the skilful touch of n master
upon the existing natural growth and
conditions. 4 little thinning out and
bit of judicious pruning will often
transform Il messy hodscpodge into an
artistic tangle or mass, artistic because
natural.
When cities and towns take better
care of the grounds about their schools