INSTITUTE PAPERS. I4y 



Sometimes it is necessary to draw aside a curtain, however 

 beautiful, in order to afford a glimpse of something which it 

 conceals. It may be necessary to sacrifice a group of trees in 

 order to afford scope of view or to reveal a beautiful cascade 

 or lake. Let us be quite certain before drawing the curtain 

 aside, however, that what we wish to reveal is really more 

 beautiful than the curtain itself. As I write, I remember, witli 

 bitterness, a neighbor who cut away some beautiful trees that 

 clothed a jagged cliff. I could have forgiven him in time, had 

 he not white-washed every protruding boulder. 



We who are fortunate enough to dwell in beautiful Maine 

 have more frequent occasion to consider tree pruning than tree 

 planting. If the occasion for tree planting offers itself, we shall 

 usually find the graceful elm with its scant fohage a happy 

 choice in this cool climate where we have more reason to 

 encourage sun than sliade. 



I believe it is a mistake to encourage the planting of fruit 

 trees along public highways. The prevalence of insect pests 

 makes all un sprayed trees a harboring place for them from 

 which they breed a constant menace to orchards. The Euro- 

 pean countries that have long encouraged the planting of fruit 

 trees along the highway, and have provided for their care at 

 public expense, are finding that the clouds of dust raised by 

 passing auto-mobiles load the fruit with disease germs. We 

 were told in the great Vienna hospital where we went with a 

 friend who came near losing her life from eating the infested 

 fruit that physicians were inaugurating a movement to have 

 forest substituted for fruit trees. 



Anything that adds to the comfort, convenience, or safety 

 of travellers will increase their pleasure in traversing a given 

 route. Guide posts with bold, black letters on a white back- 

 ground, giving accurate information, should be placed at every 

 point where doubt could arise. 



Bridge rails should be painted white, unless a very li.9 it 

 concrete. The abutments should be of uniform pattern instead 

 of being left to the wild fancies of the workmen ; and they might 

 bear the name of the town, instead of being decorated by the 

 imprint of a child's foot or the workman's hand. 



Telephone and telegraph poles could be made both pictur- 

 esque and useful by painting them dark green to a height ot 



