Putnam patriot., 1930-09-18
Snte Tree Warden Talks On Identification


 seeding of embankments. planting of trees where required and the group ing of shrubbery along the new rights of way.
 We are improving waste areas of land such as intersection triangles. island areas between new strengthened roads and short abandoned curves. Many of these are more or less form ally planted with nursery stock. seed ed and maintained as lawns. These are called Highway Gardens or Parks.
 Considerable of our work is along conservation lines and in carrying out this policy we have established five temporary nurseries in different sec tions of the state. collecting native growth from roadsides where it is too thick, from farm land where it Is donated and from new rights of way where 1t would be destroyed by the construction of a new road. This stock is planted out in the stockyards, highly fertilized and cultivated for one or two seasons to develop a good fibrous root growth ard then used in our roadside planting. We feel that the conservation of our native growth and the utilization of it in plantings along rural and scenic routes is part of the program which should be close " adhered to and in fact such plant ings and in such locations are in harmony with the surroundings while, on the other hand. the formal plant ting of nursery stock in some waste area that we are improving located near a settled community harmonizes perhaps better with those particular surroundings.
 We are also improving little areas of land wherever they can be secured, particularly in groves and preferably by water, where VIC can establish lit- tie rest places or picnic grounds. Some of these areas are along our right of way and in some instances We have had small pieces of land given to us for this purpose and have also bought at very nominal price some locations. Improvements are made consisting of cleanup and neces- sary grading arranged for the park ing of two, three or nIore cars, and the placing of picnic tables and waste barrels. These rest places are in- tended for what the name implies to be used by people motoring over the highways and wishing to stop for rest and perhaps a lunch. They are not intended for overnight camping. It is customary with us to give each place a name using some local eondi- ton, such as Crystal Spring" Mountain View"-plaeing a sign cut out the shape of the map of Connec- i ticut with the name and underneath Maintained by the Connecticut State 1 Highway Department The estab- l lishment of these small picnic areas ] was started last year and have seem ed to fill a particular want and ap- parently are very much appreciated | by people motoring through the state as well as by our own people. Letters being received in the office commend ing us in the work testify to this fact.
 The landscaping of the highways of state Is a stupendous undertaking, one in which you hardly know where
 to begin and one that will never be entirely completed.
 In all of this work We have been
 asking the cooperation of our citizens,
 not only in the cleanup and plant ing of our roadsides, but in the clean
 up and keeper in proper condition the |. It is a well known fact that a person may own but small plot of ground if any, but he utilizes the landscape , of an entire community. We are re ceiving a great deal of cooperation , from individuals and organizations
 from landowners in our rural com
 munities providing top soil for DOT
 tions of the work and allowing our ! men to collect native shrubs and trees from their land; from people owning gardens or estates containing quan-
 titles of shrubbery and perennials which from time to time have to be thinned out, and they give us the : surplus; from the property owner: ! who take over the entire Identification
 of the readSides adjacent to their pro
 perty; from community clubs, civic organizations and individuals who will contribute money for the plant. ing of some triangle in an intersec
 ton or waste area of land located ir
 their community in which they ar, 1 particularly interested.
 The Landscape Division of the Con
 necticut State Highway Department
 is organized at present as follows: State highway tree warden. who i' , chief of the division; assistant to tn, state highway tree warden; landscap, architect; special supervisor; genera : foreman; tree and pole line inspector foreman-inspector and fourteen fore men with groups of trained men To , cated at strategic points throughou l the state.
 The main office of the division il 7 in Hartford, in charge of a chief elerl , with two assistants. One branch of fee is maintained in Norwaik, 1T ]. charge of the special supervisor, witt : one clerk.
 have told you briefly of the act. ivities Of the Landscape Division ir Connecticut. We may be carrying or
 this work under little different plan ] than some of the other states who :, have already started Identification \ program. I presume it makes little
 difference just how the work is hand.
 led providing you get results, but
 am strongly of the opinion that two things are absolutely necessary; first
 that the leadership in this work on
 the part of the state shall be through
 it's highway department, and second
 that in order to succeed the state de. partment must have the wholehearted cooperation of individuals and organ.
 nations throughout the state.
 Public Support