Putnam patriot., 1928-07-12
HIGHWAY BEAUTY Pi'M'S CAL. Enn En'i
 EXTENSIv. YORK
Planting 1882 Trees, Creation of Gardens. New Views PIant- ed Slopes and Picnic Spots in 1928 Program.

Identification work along Connecti- cut Highways will be continued with renewed vlgor this year with the planting of 1892 trees along various roads as part Of the proEram. accord. ing 10 plans announced today by Highway Commissioner John A. Mac. donald. in order 10 avoid unnatural effects. the trees to be planted will be typical New England growths. such as. elm. sugar maple. pin oak. red maple, and white ash.
 The tree planting. however. Is by no means the major portion of the identification work 10 be undertaken this year. One of the objeesives toward which the highway department will strive during the coming spring and summer months. in addition to continued tree planting. will be that of opening views through shrubbery and foliage 10 particularly sc5nie spots. especially along roads t9 which rivers. streams, and lakes are adjacent By pruning and trimming trees and by cutting down or trans planting small growths, the depart. meni has already been able 10 open several fine views 10 passing motor. ists, the beauties of which have hitherto been lost.
 Another objective will be that of creating roadside picnic spots in seen. ic locations. Last summer the depart ment noticed many family excursions making use of shaded hooks along the highways. but fin practically all such cases 1t was necessary for these families to park their cars within the highway limits where they became hazards to other motorists. It is planned during the ensuing months to provide not only we'll shaded spaces for family pienies. but also to clear away the growths from and grade a sufficient amount of ground to provide parking spaces well off the road.
 Another Identification development which is already under way is the creation of park gardens in the for. merIy barren tracts between road in- tersections and in the smaller plots left by the elimination of curves. In all of the latter cases. the creation of these gardens must naturally fol low the reconstruction of pavements. for only where reconstruction has taken place do these spaces exist. The winter has afforded the oppor. tunity of cleaning and grading many of these spots for spring planting, Shrubbery was set out in the fall and Is expected 10 bloom shortly. Most of this shrubbery is of the cultivated type, although some natural growths have been transplanied. The natural plants have been chiefly dogwood or laurel. the department being espe clally anxious to cultivate the growth of the state flower of Connecticut
 Hiding HIdeous Sand Banks
 In many places in the state, the department has been devoting atten ton to high rough slopes lining the highways. many of these were seeded last fall with grase. In roadside slopes which were too steep for plant ing or upon which the soil was noi sufficiently fertile to warrant planting. small patches of fertile soil were in serted and in these various vines, In cluding Japanese Honeysuckle, ram bier rose, and woodbine. were plant ed, so that in a few years time the once hideous sand banks should be covered with blossoms and greenery.
 Tn announcing his Identification plans for the current year. Commis' sioner Macdonald stressed the neces' sity of securing the cooperation of the people of the state. Connecticut peo- pie in general are proud of their state. he said. and desire to see it's highways beautihed. but active co operation will serve 10 increase the speed with which the identification program can be developed. Coopera- ton of the towns in the care of trees within the limits of the highways and the cleaning of unsightly spots, to gethar with the active aid of clubs and civic organizations. will greatly speed the planting and landscaping work. Cooperation of this sort has already been ofiered by many individuals and associations. but more will be helpful in the future.
 The roads upon which tree planting will take place this Spring are Route l76, westport. Wilton Road: Route 1. Fairheid-Old Kings Highway, West port.Fairneld Road. Norvalk (Westl. Fairfield cut0ff. Branford- East Haven Road. Milford Turnpike. Guilford cut on; Route 8. Stratford. Shelton Road Route i26, Danbury- -Norwalk Road Route l22. Bridgeport-Newton Road Route 1it, Northford -Durham-Middle- town Road: Route 10, Middleiown Haddam: Route III. Middleiown. Meriden. MarIboro-Hebron; Route 12, Norwich New London. Mohegan Trail (Plainneldl: Route Ill, Scotland-can- terbury, South Woodstock East Wood stock: Route 142. North Woodstock. Massachusetts State Line Route Se6. Amston-H Hebron, North Windham- Chaplin.