Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-27

E
This ought to be the slogan Of the
state. He who has not planted ono or
more and watched the growth from
tender sprig to sapling, and from sap
ling to the sturdy tree; watched the
buds expand to blossoms and the bios
SONS yield to fruit, watched the tiny,
fuzzy, green things grow to golden or
crimson globes, has missed something
worth the having II no other profit
came from the planting Of the trees.
Years ago I began advocating the
planting Of apple trees. cherry trees
and other hardy fruits, along the
highways, fence rows, and other
waste places The idea was not orig
inal with me, but suggested BY MI.
Henry Clarke Moore and my father
in-law, Mr.. Webster Bowen, who E.re.
q pioneer nurseryman. About twenty
years ago planted apple trees along
the highway by the only piece OF
ground we owned. These arc the
splendid old Wealthies that this year.
and nearly every year for the past
sixteen, have been the source OF 30
much pleasure to us in many ways.
The same year furnished Mr.. Moore
and others the trees without expense
to plant them along the streets. The
trees were grown by Mr.. Bowen.
No attempt has been made to COM
mercialize the idea. That was not the
thought. Our lawn was set with as
many fruit trees as it would accoynzno-
date and half dozen set in the street
as an experiment. The trees were s
years old at planting-or rather at
transplanting- not one has died.
They began bearing the third year.
They have been pruned-the only caro-
they've had-the only care demanded
and for this they've give back thou
sand fold.
Each year we've watched the BLOC
somins-by we mean the sainted one,
the girls. the boy and land AZ the
lawn and street about the lawn was
one great glorious flower show. we've
often driven away to come again and
see it from a distance and revel in
the picture that 1t made. And song
birds came because the flowers were
there and tiny humming birds and
bees-for these love flowers no less
aye. more-than we.
And the glory Of the flower show
was not alone for US, the birds and
bees. How often have we heard the
passerby excIain How beautiful"
Twas worth the planting OF the trees
that others might enjoy.
This spring, one morning early, --'He:.
the trees were glorious In their bloom,
the rising sun just sitting silver in the
drops of dew and the air intoxicating
with the sweet perfume, I started for
the postofficc and the daily grind. Just
on the opposite corner from the lawn
l saw a fel!ow--a tramp as I believed
and still Understanding and looking
at the place.
AS approached him he sort q A1h-
tated, pointed to the place and sid.
Say. Mister. do you live therer Yes.
Why?" said l. My, Oh! But you have
a fine place to live" he said YES. It's
fine just now.," said and then he drew
a long deep breath and with kind Of
sigh. 1T must be just about paradise
to live among those flowers"
And he was just ragged sort Of
tramp!
told him 1t took souls as vel! as
flowers to make paradise. and then
Il couldn't say much more. He sure
could not have known % could not
have under stood.
bought his breakfast and asked him
where he iived-but didn't learn.
only learned he loved the blossoms OF
the apple trees. They made him think
Of home and paradise; two words that
mean the same.
Twas worth the planting Of the
trees. sf'1
And tner the apples come! The
Golden Harvest and the Astraken just
after June. The Duchess which must
have been the sort that tempted Eden's
pioneers; for who could resist tempta-