Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-09
Horticultural Association and
Park and Forestry Associa-
ton Hold Joint Session
NEED OF PARKS is DISCUSSED
Professor Macbride Wrote to Officers of
Many Iowa Farms and Received In
teresting Replies on This Subject
Work of Tree Planting in Cities and
Towns Also Considered.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to T1meS-RepupHcah'
Des Moines, Dec. 9.--There is such
close alliance between the state nor
ticultural association and the state
park and forestry association that II
lis difficult to point out the line Where
they merge. This afternoon the two
associations hold a joint meeting ana
the program relates school gardens
shrubs and plants, street trees ana
parking, school gardens and forestry
I in Europe and kindred subjects of in
| terest not alone to the persons inter
| ested alone in forestry but to all other
/ right minded persons. 1t is nttle
| difficult for an outsider to see now
these people can find enough to say
| on these various subjects to fill pro-
gram for three days and part OF the
time two shows running. But the PARK
and forestry association which started
| off yesterday has made some progress
since its organization two years ago.
land the address of the able and enthus-
liastic president of the association, Fro
| fessor Macbride, of the State Univers-
Eity, opened the eyes of all who listened
Professor Macbride spoke enthusiast
| cally of the work of the association ana
declared that it had met with hearty
iresponse and general expression OF
sympathy He spoke OF the fact that
lit lis now recognized that park making
pays That land Is most valuable Wnlcn
lis well shaded and those who plat ad-
ditions to cities are moved first TO set
| out trees The time for increased ef-
b fort for parks in Iowa is propitfous-
1--WE are no longer destroying natural
| beauty. we are no longer poor, we are
mot now careless about these Things.
The people are easily interested In
parks. Professor Macbride wrote to the
| town and city officers Of Iowa and Sc
cured information as to the work whlch
I has been done in making these towns
/ am. 81 ei4s ueautiAe4. ~. o. ~ =
plies there were only six indicating
/ that nothing had been done. Every
where there is some attempt modest
Fl tho 1t may be, at having parks. In
seventy of the towns there are old FASH
ioned town squares in the middle of the
towns, usually occupied by some pub
Ilic building. Forty-two of the squares
are thus used and court houses are
| found in many. In these $50 towns
and cities there are 1900 acres devoted
to park purposes. II equally distri-
buted this would not be had, but Des
| Moines has 465 acres. Cedar Falls 200
| and some others large amounts; SO
| that in fact the greater part of the
towns and cities of the state are with
| out parks. The fact is that more at
| tention has been given to cemeteries
and these are often used for park pu,-
poses but inappropriately. There is
need of landscape architects, of bet
ter understanding of the work of MAX
i ing parks, etc. President Macbride's
lecture was illustrated by views of the
various parks of the state and was de-
cidedly interesting.
AT the park and forestry meeting
there was discussion of the work of
making cities and towns handsomer by
tree planting in the yards and along
the streets. Mr.. De La Sheldon, of
| Ames, read a paper on this subject.
| A paper sent by George Van Houten
from Sitka, Alaska, was also along this
| line. Mr.. Van Houten reported that
there is an abundance of forests in that
part of the world where he is now To-
Gated. He would have village i'm
provement society formed in every city
and town of the state at once. Profess
sor L. c.. Pammel. in speaking of this
work, thought there should be some
Legislation, to direct the tree planting in
towns and cities. This work is one of
the chief purposes of the state park and
forestry association.
! The reports made both to the for.
estry association and the horticultur-
1 lists on legislation accomplished We're
not very encouraging. The bill which
! was indorsed by the park and forestry
association passed the house last win
| ter but the senate did not act on it
This was a bill to create forestry re-
serves or to encourage their forma-
| tion on Iowa farms by remission of
taxes and other benefits There was
/ a good feeling toward this In the leg
| islature but no disposition to take it UP
and push it thru. The association will
urge it again upon the legislature.
! The horticultural society secured leg
islation in regard to their annual re-
ports which helped them some and a
slight increase in the appropriation.
They will continue their efforts for
the creation of department and q
state official paid by the state to look
after horticultural matters.
| The seed corn exhibit in connection
with the state farmers institute today
was one of the most instructive things
going Seed corn was received from
| 25 different exhibitors and placed on
exhibition. The tables on which it was
displayed attracted more attention than
the tables of apples and pears. In fact
there was as much of interest in the
seed corn exhibit as anything and 1t
was voted a great success.
Permit is Granted.
Special to Times Republican.