The Republican journal., 1910-08-04
Spare Our Roadside Scenery.
BY wALrEKDEANE.


Monadnock. Its beautiful natural feat
ures were its great attraction. In the
year 1900 a strong movement was made
to protect the roadsides, and on invita-
ton of Mr.. Arthur E. Poole, an active
resident of the town, number of us
wrote letters to be read before the Jaf-
frey Grange on the subject:
| Resolved. That it is for the best in
terest of the Town and State that the
roadside trees and shrubbery should be
protected As this applies equally to
all our Massachusetts, and other New
England towns, | will quote in full my
letter, which was published in the Peter
boro Transcript for August 16, 1900, a
paper of naturally limited circulation:
Il am very much pleased to learn that
an effort is being made in Jaffrey to
preserve the natural features of the
roadsides, and to leave the trees, shrubs,
and smaller plants to grow as nature
planted them. l am very glad of this
opportunity to express to you how deeply
/ feel upon this subject and to state my
reasons from the point OF view Of the
summer boarder. l consider Jaffrey one
of the most beautiful towns in New Eng
land, as we'll as one of the healthiest,
and it is for these two reasons that l
have come here regularly since 1889.
While the fashionable seaside and noun
tain resorts have their followers in great
numbers, yet there are thousands of peo-
| pie who, like myself, are attracted, on
account of the natural beauties OF the
place, to Jaffrey and other New England
towns. Now one of the chief points of
attraction is the country road. We come
up here to enjoy nature and to gain
OF Ir1x,n LIS
the great attractions of every day. The
features of the roadside are absolutely
gone if we miss not only the beautiful
trees of which Jaffrey may justly be
proud, but also the tangled shrubbery
skirting the way between the road and
the wall. This underground is one of
the chief beauties in the scenery of the
roadside, and forms setting for the
trees and taller shrubs. Every plant
that nature has set out is needed to
make a harmonious whole.
''There is great interest that is in
creasing every year IN the study OF
nature. 1t has taken during the past
few years strong hold upon the people,
and it is astonishing to find how eagerly
the study of plants, birds and inserts
about us is being pursued. 1t is becom-
ing feature now in school education,
and surely every means should be offered
to aid this longing to know more of ma /
lures ways. A long experience shows |
me that it is along the roadside that the
study of nature can be followed with the |
greatest ease and with great profit The |
features for such study exist here now
in most perfect degree. appeal to
you to use all your influence to retain
these attractions. Do not clear up the
roadsides by cutting down the very plants
that we come here to see. Destroy these
beautiful borders to your roads, and the
attractions have gone. Why! in the
landscape gardening of today they are
seeking to reproduce these natural feat
ures of the roadside in our private
grounds and our public parks. They
have at last realized that nature, after
all, is the best guide. 1t is not only your
grand old Monadnock, your sweeping
fields, rolling, and glorious woods that
we love, it is also the beautiful country
roads, lined with natures garden, in
which birds without number spend the
summer with US.
II speak not only for those of US who
come to Jaffrey for the summer holi-
days, but for the children of the town.
On the roadside there is ever before
all the plants, birds and insects by the
way, is far ahead in those branches
of science that deal with these objects
about US, and he will make better man
for knowing more of natures secrets. |
hope that these studies are carried on in
your schools here.
The amount of information that the
roadside can impart to him who seeks it
is unlimited. One day | took short
walk along country road in New Hamp-
shire, where the roadside tangle was left
untouched. 1t did not harm the road,
and it did not encroach upon the field
beyond Out of curiosity | began to
note the plants along the way. In ten
minutes, of trees, shrubs, and smaller
| plants | had written down siXty-ive
species 1t is this feast for the eye and
the mind that makes your roads so at
| tractive
81 can say without reservation that
know of no place where there are such
exquisite drives as you have here in Jaf-
frey. 1t is an easy matter to destroy the
| beauty of these drives. If this should
be done and the great attraction that
calls us here removed, fear that many
would seek other places where their daily
walks and drives would still be among
the trees and shrubs. Improve and widen
your roads in places, if necessary, but do
not touch the beautiful borders.
Il know very well the strong feeling
that exists among the summer visitors to
Jaffrey in regard to this preservation of
the roadsides, and l cannot but feel that
there are many living here who would
grieve at the destruction of these natural
features. The drive to Dublin along the
road past The Ark is deservedly known
far and wide for its natural beauties,
and he surely must be blind, indeed, who
could bear to have any of these beauties
destroyed. 1t is privilege to live amidst
such scenes.
81 am very glad that your grange is
taking up not only the very important
material side of the life of those about
you, but also that side which appeals to
the finer perceptions of our nature.
! These perceptions we all possess to a
greater or less degree, and, in the name
of those of US who come into your town
every summer to enjoy with you the
privileges offered by your exquisite
scenery, l beg you to use all your in
fuence in persuading your friends and
neighbors that the roadside features of
the town are among the chief attractions
of Jaffrey."
Apple Tree Insects.