The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-08-28
Heu Shall We Shade the Maine
HighNaysl
(By r. T. Patten)

10y IL. l. Idlltul
Names forest growth has been the
subject OF poem, prose and story UNI
der all circumstances for many years.
Perhaps there is more constructive or
effective conversation about it at the
present time than ever before. While
Maine has been talking and destroy
ing, nature has been doing her best
to keep the state from ultimately be-
coming a treeless waste. Almost on
the sly. she has been growing trees
and bushes, taking advantage of every
opportunity to dig roots into the soil
and extend leafy branches toward the
sky and sunlight We really do not
grasp the extent to which land other
wise abandoned or neglected, has
been. and is being covered with young
trees and forest growth.
We should work in harmony, rather
than in conflict, with nature in this
respect. Wherever there is oppor-
tunity, we should leave the bushes
and future trees undisturbed. In
particular, the borders of our high
ways should receive thought in this
respect. ride along an unshaded
road, if the aspect is otherwise pleas
ing, may be delightful, but its attrac-
tiveness is enhanced many fold II
there is even an occasional tree to
cast it's shade across the roadway.
A maximum of comfort and enjoy
ment Is reached if the shadows can
be continuous This result can be
so easily secured that any other out
come Is without excuse.
Trees, like birds. seem to like the
associations of men. There is no
area where trees will creep in so
promptly as the roadside. No doubt
the dust which blows from the road
surface, always of high fertilizing
value, has much to do with this.
Moreover. the old walls which border
our roads in many places conserve
moisture and help to defend the
young trees from early destruction
All circumstances seem to welcome
trees of most every variety by the
side of the road.
Now. it wouldn't do to let the trees
and bushes grow too close to the
wheel track. From an esthetic
standpoint. narrow lane between
leaves and branches is all that is de-
sired Practically, however, there
must he room for vehicles to pass,
and beyond that the road builder de-
mands a chance for cutters and that
the sun be admitted to dry up the
mud and moisture. Further consi-
deratiOns often make necessary a
cleared space outside the cutters from
which road material may be drawn in
to make the proper crown shape
formation for the actual travelling sur
face After all these demands are
met, nevertheless, a line of trees at
the very margin OF the road location
could be left on both sides which. in
few years. would offer their grace,
beauty and shade for those who pass
OF course if ideal conditions are
sought. we should demand that these
trees be of the same variety and that
they be at equal distances. This,
however. is not at all necessary The
result would be we'll enough If trees,
in fairly regular line, parallel with
the highway on each side, could be
left at irregular intervals from three
To fifteen feet apart. OF course.
those growing within three feet OF
each other might not all come to
maturity but the result Of frequent
tree locations would have nothing de-
trimental about it.
Back of these trees might be now
ing fields. pasture woodland, or any
thing else No use to which the land
beyond them could be put would
suffer by reason of their growing
near the highway.
II those who own the land border
ing on our roads and those who are
engaged in. or are responsible for
work. would follow out the
above suggestions. II would be but
few years to the time when Maine
would give the appearance Of one
grand parkway from Portsmouth to
and from the Canadian
border TO the coast.