The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-23
PUBLIC VALUE OF
 PLANTING AT COREY

1 largely because the problem in this par l ticular state is so peculiarly complex that | it could hardly be approached in an- other way. And then, moreover, the
 plants were not listed particularly on account of their ornamental value. The
 most knowledge that is being gained now is through the activities of nnrserymen, . plant collectors and individuals who are getting acquainted with the trees, shrubs
 and towering plants which the local woods contain and who are bringing in nursery stock for the ornamentation of home grounds. These activities are att tended with surprises and disappoint-
 ments, but each experiment is contri- button toward a fuller knowledge and permanent record, tending to attach more safety to investments in the cost of beau tiful outdoor surroundings of which plant
 growth forms an important part when in- telligently used. The opportunity to
 know trees and shrubs by sight is in- creasing. More trees and more varie- ties are being planted where the people see them and have an opportunity to become familiar with them and to admire the beauties peculiar to each even though the plants are often not in locations typi- cal of the abode in which nature SUD- plies them.
 Of course, it is generally recognized that one properly equipped to plan orna- mental horticultural developments over a considerable area of land not only has an artistic sense for the arrangement and best appearance of plants, but also which varieties are suited for certain cli- matic conditions, for certain attitudes for positions exposed to certain kinds of wind, the shade or sun, the nearness to sea. for location, wet dry, for rocky, sandy, damp or dry, loamy or sliding flc ntr hut f- ;k
 known of the adaptability of ornamental plants to soils of character set forth by chemical analysis Now, for instance. many of us know that rhododendrons and azaleas are especially opposed to Timely soils and that they do not grow in the Birmingham district and yet where can we find a whole list of plants that are opposed to limey soil or. of more import ance, a list of those that are especially fond of limey soils. It Is very significant that In a treatise, not vet superseded, Hilgarde, a famed authority on soils and one to whom should look for this in formation, says that his discovery of the absence of just this important knowl- edge stimulated the interest in soils that has since made him famous. But, as far as is known, we haven't yet gotten 1 the desired information. The observations i of the members of this society on the
 names of ornamental plants that are na- | tive to chemical conditions of the soil at l their homes if filed with the secretary. will form valuable contribution to rec | ord of what be done in this state and especially valuable in view of the splendid soil survey which the govern
 ment Is giving out fast as completed
 Botanical societies should get interested in the matter.
 Outside of the street planting at Corey 1t Is significant that even though the town is very economic subdivision and | ttf,t. ha6 tn hn in inc xrff1 what skilled workmen could afford to
 buy and maintain, yet considerable land areas are reserved for park and play i ground purposes as a public necessityhu even though they will not be in demy . e until the town Is all built up. i spring these park areas are toynd str,.,.
 proved in order to take adYSl hu,it ,'., uo
 time In developing the tree6tad to up'
 growth, before the town is Aetv tber t,,a
 and an opportunity is pres6ee inc ,,a,,ss t the planting of a wider vad nse ,,ar,e.,s
 on the streets and arra the varied loca-
 more naturalistically affeature is to' h. such as would grow Harden in which vr;,I
 lions naturally. Ontost attractive varie'
 miniature botaniGecially hardy in thi.
 be developed the given position A feature ties of herbs e eeducational yalue Tbis
 locality and the lbly located near a school
 that will be or loube effect. The school feature is desiraarchitectural grouping of thus having a buildings and the gro,,nds
 is part of an be ornamented with troes all the publioccording to a comprehensjve of each is texample that might well ba and shrubs more by our city county and
 scheme, g. authorities in connection with recognzpublic buildings Why if js o,l,
 even st' that the preparation of a nlan greaterthorized for the proper placInp of
 recent buildings and arrangement of inc
 was ais of the Alabama PolyteebnIc in
 future ana the experiment station at Au-
 grounond this was made possible only
 stituteh private donation of the amount
 burn !s of such plan The rrounds
 througreat many public buildings and of costly school houses can be improved of a Alamental trees and shrubs col especial'pm the nearby woods And so
 With orAadditional interest attached to lected frpg that is now being done on
 there is of Corey, where not onI,
 the piantiA made to ornament the park
 the streetsees and shrubs that will ba
 provision is srm of growth and brillian-
 way with trtSt each street in the town
 Deautitui m 1cN varieties which, taken
 cy of bloom. bttse on one of the streets
 is provided witfher, work out an ers
 as they relate thotch will make a gar to those on anothole and Is designad
 tensive scheme whession of the town
 den city of the wlquantities of beau
 10 perfect the expr which have never
 plan. There will be sgham before Of
 tiful trees and shrubs have Q co,s,s
 been seen about Birminsm in tha ecu
 course, 1t is desired to \ centraI ,a.,-
 erable show of spring bloOu he at,,.o
 ter of the town and near thef tha rn,s
 areas. Carnegie avenue. WI red s.s
 with the yellow twig flowers ol, hraa,
 en bell, while a little later thN othnn
 white bloom of the diervillas wi.ea
 forth on DeBardeeben avenue Sn
 streets will be brilliant with the AVe'
 azaleas, and then there are roses 1
 Forty-first street, the snowfall on Thirty
 eighth. hydrangea on Cross street and Y
 Althea on Possum Valley road. and
 throughout an exhaustive collection which
 will assure flowers at all times. distribu-
 ted among the many streets so as to fur
 nish continuous chain of attractiveness.
 There will not be mere single plants be-
 tween the trees, but rather strong groups
 enjoyable to see as single beds and in
 front of each lot doubly so in vanishing
 sheets as the color solidifes in the per- spective of street length. Many of the
 people who are building residences in
 Corey will plant the same street varie-
 ties in front of their houses on their
 lawns, thus increasing the strength of
 each street scheme and the exceptional
 beauty of the town as whole.