Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-06-10
TREES FOR OUR ROADS.
Highway Commission Has in Mind
Black Walnut and Pecan.

At its meeting in June writes w. j.
Cormack the Columbia correspondent
of the News and Courier the state high
way commissioner will consider plans
for planting trees along hard-surfaced
roads already constructed and to be
constructed in South Carolina. The
carrying out of this plan will be mat
ter of decided interest, since the trees
will have both an esthetic and utilitar-
ian value.
It has been suggested that the COM
mission decided on black walnut trees
for bordering the hard-surfaced roads
in the Piedmont, and pecan trees for
similar roads in the costal section
of the state. The planting along hard
surfaced highways Of these nut-bear-
ing trees would undoubtedly meet
with the unanimous approval OF all
small boys. However, there are other
considerations besides providing trees
which will yield harvest Of nuts.
One consideration is the factor of rap
idity in growth. Neither the black
walnut lor the pecan would compare
favorably in rapidity of growth with
several other varieties Of trees. An
other factor of importance in under
taking tree planting on a large scale
as a state wide proposition Is the ease
with which seedlings could be obtain
ed. There would be no difficulty what
ever in obtaining young pecan trees,
but black walnut seedlings are very
scarce and 1t would probably be nee
essary to rear them before enough be
secured to border existing stretches
of hard surfaced highway in the Pied
mont, not to mention the other
stretches Of hard surfaced highway to
be built in that section Of the state.
From the utilitarian standpoint the
black walnut would be splendid
choice, for the reason that the timber
It Yields has become very scarce, is
exceedingly hard and takes a splendid
finish. No one could be found yester-
day who could render expert judg-
ment on pecan wood as timber, but
since this tree is closely akin to the
hickories it would probably yield
good hard wood If worked into timber.
Returned soldiers have pointed out
that in the trees which border Its
highways France had resource which
contributed substantially to winning
the war; as the war brought about an
increased demand for timber of all
kinds; the French cut down the shade
trees along their roads,. taking first
stances taking all the trees left stand
ing. So keeniy alive were the French
to the value of trees that even work.
ing under enormous war pressure they
had time, to plant out seedlings along
highways which the necessities Of war
forced them 70 denude. Of trees.
The French highways are built with
view of planting strees on either
side of them, and have specially con-
structed shoulders both along level
stretches and in cuts and across fills.
At the present stage Of road devel-
opment in South Carolina engineers
don't consider II desirable to border
top soil or sand clay surfaced roads
with trees, for the reason that these
roads need a great deal Of sun in or
der to dry off rapidly after rain:
Roads with a permanent surface Of
cement concrete or asphaltic con-
crete are not affected by shade; in
fact shade in summer on such roads
would in all probability lessen the
enormous wear and tear which they
must undergo on account Of heart ex-
pansion and contraction. This expan-
sion and contraction is one of the ST.
lent but exceedingly powerful forces
CT nature with which builders Of hard
surfaced roads must reckon. Sharing
such roads in summer would lower
the temperature and reduce the de-
gree of expansion which they would
otherwise undergo when the suns
rays beat down upon them.
The question of the state highway
commission at its meeting in June on
the proposal to border hard-surfaced
roads with trees will be awaited with
keen interest. Undoubtedly all small
boys will vote heavily for black wal
nut and pecan trees.
w. ]. Cormack.