156 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL 



unsightly to the eye of the thrifty farmer as well as to the horticul- 

 tural expert. The deep, narrow ditches which we have discounten- 

 anced and the corners of the old rail fences are very difficult to keep 

 cleaned out, but with the board and wire fences now so commoLly 

 used, or better with no fences at all, this work is comparatively slight. 

 Fortunately for us blue grass is an efficient and acceptable aid in the 

 extermination of bad weeds. Over most of our territory all that is 

 necessary to destroy the rank weedy vegetatiou of the roadsides and 

 replace it by this beautiful lawn-grass, is to keep the former properly 

 cut. If the grading has been as herein proposed, this may usually be 

 entirely accomplished with the meadow mower, making the expendi- 

 ture of labor very slight. Running the machine two or three times 

 a year over the unobstructed road surface is a small matter for each 

 land owner, or if preferred for the public officers in charge. But 

 what a difference in result ! the smooth, grassy borders are a delight 

 to all eyes and a welcome relief from the unkept coarseness too often 

 presented to the traveler as an indication of the careless inattention 

 of the inhabitants. Except in city streets it is not necessary that 

 the grass be always short as upon lawns. Indeed, so far as the grass 

 itself is concerned, once mowing for the season will suffice. Other- 

 wise it is only essential to keep down other growths. Of course the 

 time and frequency of cutting must depend on the things to cut, 

 always taking care that seed is not allowed to mature. In special 

 cases other means would have to be employed to totally eradicate 

 noxious weeds, but simple mowing at proper times will ordinarily 

 suffice. The borders of the streets in towns ought to be better 

 graded and cared for. Nothing can add more to the general appear- 

 ance of a residence street than for each lot owner to extend his lawn 

 ten or twelve feet beyond the sidewalk, and bestow the same care on 

 his outer strip that is or should be given to the lawn next the house. 

 In this connection it must be said the public highway is no place for 

 stock of any kind running at large, neither in the country nor in the 

 villages. 



3. Trees must receive the main attention in the horticulture of 

 roads and streets. Objects so prominent as these must be observed 

 by the most listless. Even the peculiarities of the different kinds 

 forcibly strike the eye of the observer. The wonder as that better 

 selections are not generally made, and that greater care is not 

 bestowed upon them. The fact is, however, that the original cost, 

 the ease of transplanting, and the rapidity of growth are usually 

 allowed to count more in the choice than the final fitness of the tree 

 for the purpose. People plant wayside trees as though most import- 

 ance was attached to the appearance the first few years, or as though 

 the planting really concerned a brief period of time. And then, when 

 once started, young trees are too often no more appreciated than 

 annual plants. Men hitch horses to trees with no more heed than 



