Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-21
The Roadside,

made by State HOrtlcultOr1St Frank n.
Dudley of the Maine Department OF
Agriculture, concerning the roadsides
Of our State. Mr.. Dudley. as a land
scape artist, has seen much Of the ben
Gifts Of advertising" localities by their
attractive appearance to passersby
and visitors. He knows the value of the
good word handed along, and none
is better aware Of the menace and the
annual cost OF the disease-spreading
and insect-nursing brush along our
highways.
The Kennebec Journal has often
urged owners to clean up the road
sides in the interests Of better roads,
public safety and attractiveness. DAN
gerous curves are hidden by bushes
that ought not to be allowed to grow.
Roadways dry out with sun and wind
more quickly If the bushes are cut
away and burned up. In many places
beautiful views Of surrounding country
are cut off from passing automobile
parties by uns:ghtly growths along the
sides of the highway.
Names prosperity and future de-
pend upon making the most of that
natural resources is only one Of the
necessary ends attainable; and one of
the most promising assets is the entic-
ing of visitors and the attracting Of
new permanent citizens by our unriv-
aled climate and scenery, good schools,
good roads, low tax rates and other ad-
vantages that our sister states are
learning to set forth. Good roads, at
tractive roadsides, comfortable homes,
prosperous farms, good fishing-all
these and many more can be advertised
and shown to the visitors and to would
be residents.
Let us read what Mr.. Dudley says
along these lines:
Perhaps in no direction have the
American people made more rapid adj
vance than in the building of beautiful
homes, but one matter which has often
been neglected by prosperous and in
telligent owners is the roadside border
ing their property. Ill-kept, untidy eX-
teriors are always conducive to gem
eral carelessness and neglect, but neat,
we'll arranged surroundings to even
modest farm buildings are elevating
ana uplifting to the community The
exterior appointments of the home re-
veal the characteristics of the owner
If these be unkempt and slovenly, he is
judged to his prejudice, but if they be
tidy and artistic, he is credited accord
lngly. Let us take care, therefore, that
our surroundings reflect to our credit.
Many of us have seen, and very
likely have in mind at the present time
fine farms with their we'll arranged
buildings carefully tended orchards,
and rich moving fields spoiled in point
Of beauty, and decreased in property
value by the unsightly roadside with
it's tangle of wild cherry, covered with
black knots, a fungi, which carried by
birds and blown by winds, quickly in
fects the plum and cherry trees of the
orchard.
The scrub oak, gnarled, old, COM
mon fruit apple trees and other weeds
and bushes, which form a convenient
breeding place for tent caterpillars,
brown-tail and gypsy moths, which if
unchecked for a year, would prove a
serious proposition for many years. Let
us do away with this unsightly feature
so often met with on country roads.
With sharp ak and a good, stout
bush scythe, cut down the undesira BILE
trees and bushes, and NOV the weeds.
Place these in piles and burn them. If
you are fortunate enough to find
naples, oaks, elms or other desirable
shade trees in proper locations. by all
means save them, with a determinat ton
TO keep them free from pests. These
weeds and bushes should be cut close
to the ground every year, performing
this work al a time when the farm
work is not pre- ssing. A good way to
bring this into quick moving is to run
q Spring-tooth harrow over 1t and SOW
grass seed. In two years you will be
amply repaid from a financial point OF
view and hundredfold from the ar
tiStic standpoint. and even that has It's
practical side. for since Maine is the
national playground and entertains
every year thousands Of automobile
tourists, and everything which adds to
the beauty Of this State is a vaIuahl
asset. In most cases It is onlv negli-
gcnce that keeps IFS from taking steps
in this direction, We can all take the
time to do 2 little of this work each
year and in this way it would take but
. few years to make the roadsides Of
Maine credit to the State"