HIGHWAY FORESTRY AND HORTICULTURE 



1061 



trees should be set out, wherever 

 available places can be found. 



( I ) Purely ornamental trees 

 would be the first thought of as 

 in harmony with all former 

 ideals. Already much has been 

 done at this by our forefathers 

 as they obeyed the injunction, 



"Woodman ! spare that tree !" 

 or have set out stately rows of 

 elms, ashes, maples, locusts, 

 poplars, horsechestnuts or ever- 

 greens of various species. Local 

 encouragement might easily in- 

 crease this sort of planting and 

 wise suggestions might improve 

 roadways from an artistic stand- 

 point. But the planting of orna- 

 mental trees would be fostered 

 continuously by the Highway 

 Superintendent, with variety as 

 well as quality always kept in 

 mind. Sometime trees will be 

 planted for their form and ele- 

 gance, like the American elm as distinguished from the ornamental purposes or for value of timber. High grade 



A BEAUTIFUL AVENUE OF TREES LINING A ROADWAY 

 These magnificent trees are California black walnuts, and the planting is at Rancho Chico, California. 



"swamp elm" or even the English variety. Again mass 

 of foliage and density will call for the horsechestnut and 

 the maple. Some will be set out for their flowers. The 

 famous cherry tree of Japan is cultivated not for its 

 fruit, but the season of its blossoming is made a public 

 holiday. 



(2) A second most important type of tree to be cul- 

 tivated on the roadside is the nut variety. Here much 

 will depend on climate and soil. No inferior nut tree 

 should be allowed to grow along the roadside, except for 



A HANDSOME CHESTNUT, FULL OF FRUIT 



The chestnut bears a heavy crop of nuts each year and is. as well, a tree of beautiful contour. Unfortu- 

 nately, _ its general planting cannot be advocated, because of the bliglit which is slowly but surely 

 destroying the species. It is only safe to plant it in certain localities and then it must be watched most 

 carefully. 



hickory trees would prosper in certain districts and could 

 be planted along the roadsides by the tens of thousands. 

 High grade hazel nuts, black walnuts, butternuts, chest- 

 nuts (where the blight has passed entirely by) as well as 

 hardy exotics like the English walnut and the pecan. I 

 put in a plea for the much neglected beechnut, provided 

 the quality can be of the best. The tree itself is highly 

 ornamental and should be set out by the thousands in 

 localities adapted to it. In Europe long lanes of beech 

 trees are famous. The Highway Superintendent would 



be on the watch for new and 

 highly flavored and hardy nuts, 

 and be quick to secure all im- 

 proved and adaptable species. 

 He should not be afraid of ex- 

 perimenting with unknown quan- 

 tities, on occasion. Nut gath- 

 ering week should be a public 

 lioliday season. Up to that time 

 the school children have been the 

 rpecial guardians of the nut 

 trees and on the week designated 

 should help gather the public 

 crop on shares. Nut trees that 

 turn out inferior fruit should be 

 grown and cut for timber. 



(3) But the main attention 

 of the specialist might well be 

 turned toward fruit culture, 

 which would be the principal 

 subject of his teaching in the 

 schools. At once, on coming to 

 his job, he will trim up and graft 

 all strong apple trees along the 



