The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-01-28
URGES ROADSIDE
TREE-PLANTING; TWO
VARIETIES NAMED

Many miles of new roads will be
constructed and many more repaired
IN Indiana during 1920 under a road
building program recently made pub
lie. In order these highways may
reach the highest state of perfection
from points of utility and ornamental
ton, roadside tree planting on an ex-
tensive scale is urged by Charles C..
DEAN, head of the forestry division
of the state conservation department.
Aside from their natural beauty,
highway trees have many advantages.
In heated seasons they serve to re-
duce the temperature, frequently en-
HANGED by reflection of the suns rays
upon hard surface roads, thus rem
dering a service to travelling man and
beast. In winter these same trees
serve as wind break.
During long periods of drought, they
materially cause the macadam or gray
ell road to retain moisture it other
wise would not retain and thus much
of the surface of the. road. pulverized
into fine dust by repeated churning
of wheels, Is prevented from blowing
away with every passing zephyr.
In selecting trees for roadside plant
6ng the farmer naturally looks to the
species which will be most beneficial
both for commercial value for in time
these trees will be cut for the timber
they contain, and for the advantages
ITO be derived from shade. Because
walnut produces a valuable nut crop
and the wood is always in demand at
IA fancy figure, preference Is given
this tree.
In fact it is par excellent for the
walnut grows well in the open and
docs not produce an over abundance
lpf shade, leading to the old fallacy
that blue grass will not grow near It..
What moisture it's shade produces
Twill not retar I'd adjacent crops.
The yellow poplar Is next best for
roadside tree planting, the depart
iment says, for like the walnut 1t does
hot have the spreading, canopy-like top
Of the elm, maple and beech, and the
shade created will not prevent quick
drying up of dirt roads following rain,
an objection raised by some who as
yet have failed to comprehend the
multitudinous advantages of roadside
tree planting.
The department recommends that
Farmers do not attempt to plant trees
TOO big as in most cases they die or,
stunted by the shock of transplanting,
never do well. Smaller trees that
caliper not in excess Of two inches In
Sliameter, are less shocked by trans
planting and in the course of 10 years
have made better progress than larger
and older trees. Cheaper and better
results are obtained from planting
nursery grown stock than securing
trees from the woods.
In advocating roadside tree plant
ing the department of conservation
urges that young trees be carefully
pruned and the branches trimmed to
height of at least IL feet. Thus the
grower will eventually realize a saw
log and at this height the tree will
dissipate shade in such a way as not
to damage adjacent crops.
Laws should be enacted, in the opin-
ion of the department, to prevent dam
aging and mutilation of roadside trees
from use as sign posts and billboards.
Every nail driven in the trunk ruins
tree as merchantable timber besides
disfiguring the natural beauty to be
found in a modern, tree-ined highway