The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-03-23
THE SHADE TREES OF BELFAST.

that stand on each side of the streets
and when in full foliage form leafy
arch overhead. When the buds begin to
swell in the spring we know that the
long winter is over; and later the fresh
foliage is delight to the eye. Then
comes autumn, when the trees are deck
ed with rich colors from Natures palette
red, crimson, yellow and brown, in va
rious shades. Then the leaves come
down, making carpet of variegated
colors underfoot. Even in winter the
trees do not lose their attraction. Often
there is light fall of damp snow that
clings to every twig and limb; and, less
often, an ice storm, when every branch
and twig is encased in ice that sparkles
in the sunlight and as you look down a
street it seems like glimpse of fairy
land.
In many of these trees grey squirrels
have their homes, and as they are pro-
tected by city ordinance, as we'll as by
public sentiment, they are very tame,
will take nuts from your hand, and if
they recognize you as friend will search
your pockets. Given a nut they will run
off and bury it and then return and sit
up and beg for more. Robins also make
their homes in these trees-not in the
same trees as the squirrels-a and despite
the many cats they also are very tame,
and in the spring, when planting Is going
on, hop about the gardens almost under
foot. But for our trees we should not
/ have the squirrels or the birds.
Who planted these trees? AS many of
them are nearly or quite a century old
that question is not readily answered.
/ But from what is known it would appear
that they were planted by individuals
and not by concerted effort. Planted
outside the front yard fences. which in
the olden days indicated the street line,
they have come TO be regarded as city
property, not be cut down or moved
without permission from the authorities.
This should imply an obligation on the
part of the city TO care for the trees as
for Other city property. but until very
recently this obligation has not been
recognized.
Some years ago the Belfast Improve
ment Society. an association of public
spirited ladies', employed forester and
had the dead limbs removed and general
repairs made. Because of neglect in
the past, inducing premature decay. a
tree is sometimes laid low by gale or
one is cut down to avert q possible acct
dent. For some years past the Seniors
of the High school have planted tree at
graduation on schoolhouse common in
the center of the city, and last year the
Woman's Club set out a tree to fill a
vacancy on one of the principal streets
tom. This, with individual effort and a
growing appreciation of the value of our
shade trees, stimulated by the freely ex-
pressed admiration of visitors, gives as
surance that their numbers Will never be
less.
The "front yard fence" here as else
where, has disappeared. Two of the
old colonial residences retain their or
namental iron fences, set on granite
base, and we would not wish them re-
moved. In the oIden days hollyhocks,
tiger lilies and other old-fashioned flow
ers bloomed inside the yards; but out
side, between the fence and the travelled
way, rank weeds flourished. rubbish col
lected and there was a general air of
neglect. Nowadays, smooth, we!l-kept
lawns extend to the roadway, and each
succeeding year shows marked i'm
provement in grounds and buildings in
all parts of the city