The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-06-03
FRUIT TREES ON ROADSIDE.
Why II Will Be Good Many Years
Before They Can Be Planted
in Large Numbers.


IL Is reported that in some parts OF
Europe the municipalities have plant
cd trees by the roadside 10 such an ex-
tent that an annual crop OF fruit OF
considerable size is the result. We
have also heard OF the reported Gus
tom among the Spaniards OF planting
peach pits everywhere that there may
be an abundance OF fruit for the peo-
pie To what extent this practice has
resulted Ia greatly enlarged fruit
crop we do not know But some OF
The travellers IN Europe testify 20 the
scarcity OF fruit there, SO IL would look
as ii the practice has not resulted In
superahundance OF the fruit Annual
~ we are confronted by the question
Of how 10 ornament our highways 81
Our landscape gardeners and hort-
culturists have the most TO say about
the matter.
Ii Is easy enough 10 solve the prob
lemon paper but not so easy 10
solve it in a manner that can BE-
worked out There have been great
many schemes tried in this country
but few If any have been successful.
so far as the use OF fruit trees along
the highway is concerned. The one
great obstacle TO the planting OF fruit
trees by the highway is vandalism.
How they prevent this in Europe. II
they do prevent il, We do not know.
Perhaps they have enough watchmen
employed TO look after the ripening
fruit In this country the fruit trees
planted or growing along the highways
are wantOnly despoiled of the bios
SONS in blossoming time and of their
fruit in fruit ripening time. and often
the fruit is taken before IL is Mt &c
use. TO prevent some one else from
getting it, How often have we seen
carriage loads Of people driving into
the city with big boughs of apple bios
SONS taken from some orchard where
a tree happened 10 stand. not on but
near. the public highway. The grab
system Of living must be eliminated
before we can hope for much in this
direction Last year was a good year
for wild crab apples. and the people
living In the locality in which the
writer resides have the custom of go
Ing into the woods and gathering what
they need each year And there are
generally enough crab apples for all.
But last year men from a distance
came into the locality az crab-apple
time. They had wagons. bags and
pickers They boldly invaded every
field and wood where crab apples we're
ripeuing and skinned the trees OF their
fruit. which was afterward sold in
South Water street. Chicago. This
shows just what would happen in the
case of fruit raised on the public high
way. Those that did the work Of car
ing for the trees would reap none OF
the benefits; cor would the general
public.
Here and there in unfenced lots are
standing apple trees. and the treat
rent they recAive shows what would
be the treatment OF trees likewise un-
protected. Before the apples are hard
IL ripe people come and shake or beat
them of with clubs. The trees are
left not only stripped but manned, and
after a few seasons OF this treatment
pressn a most unsightly appearance.
The writer knows Of one family that
had a big tree full Of apples few
hundred feet from the house One
night men came with wagon and
gathered the fruit. leaving only wheel
tracks for the owners Of the fruit.
When we have denser population
AID roads so valuable that men have
70 be constantly employed 10 keep
guard over them and repair them. we
NAV be able TO raise fruit by the road
side-but that time is as yet far dis
.anf -Earmfrs' ReYleN.