The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1918-01-17
HELPING NATURE TO
MAKE A CITY BEAUTIFUL
Civic Pride Does Much Toward Fay-
orably Impressing Not Only Res
dents But New Corners. Some
Simple Things That Will Help
GAS. u. Carbery.)

Good environment has much to do
with the welfare Of place and peo-
pie. 1t not only impresses the
general public favorably and attracts
the best people, but likewise affects
the growing population in marked
! degree. The home. no matter how
humble, that is not adorned with trees,
shrubbery, and lawn is incomplete.
A number Of homes forming a town
or village without these would mean
an increase of the cause.
There is certain amount of civic
pride in all cities and towns but there
are few places where some improve
ment cannot be made by cooperation
Of the inhabitants and assisting dame
nature.
Just at this season, on the small
lawns we look for something in the
nature Of the dwarf evergreens, the
cedars, ornamental pines or arborvi-
taes which contribute so largely to
any landscape, particularly when the
larger trees and shrubbery are bare
of leaves. These cvergreens are
not very expensive, consume little
space, use comparatively small
amounts of the soil fertility, require
little or no care and contribute gem
erously to the Identification of the
landscape no matter how small.
Another thing in their favor is that
they are (as class) free from COM
mon plant diseases and insect troubles
and set now they would render a
beauty and become well established
before the warm weather. Even
few Of these trees would help con-
siderably if placed around our front
lawns of the churches and homes.
There are many other things which
might be done at this season towardl
the Identification of our city if the
proper interest can be engaged. The
numerous large plants of forcythia,
wigelia, and other shrubbery, from
which must not be omitted the spir-
eae family, can now be propagated in
the open ground with little work and
attention, thus affording an inexpen-
sively secured stock of plants for
identifying unsightly places about
town.
Cuttings 10 or IL inches long, cut
just beneath an eye can be rooted in
open ground, and great many cS5,l
be set in small space. Cuttinsx
thus made should be Immediately set
in slot or opening made with spade,
to depth which will leave from two
to three of the buds above ground,
after which the earth should be firm
ly pressed in contact with the lower
portions of the cutting to exclude
air. The reason deep planting is to
avoid temperature changes in ir-
regularit yof moisture. A northern
exposure is best adapted to this
work and the cuttings may be placed
an inch apart in the soil. No fer
tiizer or special soil is necessary,
simply dep, firm contact with the
earth. BY midsummer the cuttings
should be well rooted and ready to
remove to permanent places. The
foregoing is one method found very
'Gtisfactry, but where larger plants
are wanted in less quantity, a still
more satisfactory and certain plan is
% lay the runners, or shoots of the
parent plant with forked stick to j
prevent wind shake. In the case +,
If the rambler or other roses which
make sufficient wood for this pur-
bose, the runner may be passed sever L
Il times under the earth, known as
erpentine layering, and plants sub {
secured from each point or
'art covered with the earth. This s
s an excellent method for pronaoat- y