150 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



track must always be exactly in the middle of the space for a highway. But I 

 trust no one will condemn the plan without first giving it some attention. 



When trees and shrubs are grouped in the manner here proposed, a dead tree 

 can be cut out without destroying the beauty of the rest. If one is smaller 

 than the rest, or if it grows in a different shape; if one sends out branches 

 nearer the ground than others; if they are not of the same kind, all the bet- 

 ter for the good effect produced. 



For the highway we have a good assortment of fine trees. Among the large 

 trees, first stands the American or weeping elm — the gem of our American 

 forests. Its habit is more graceful, its bark is tougher, its growth is more 

 rapid than the sugar maple, which is almost everybody's favorite. The Nor- 

 way maple is in almost every respect superior to the sugar maple. White pines 

 are very appropriate where people will protect them for a few years. This is 

 one of a few evergreen trees which is not spoiled when deprived of its lower 

 branches. Birches, especially the cut-leaved weeping birch, are very desirable 

 for the roadside. Oaks are desirable, but usually grow slowly. The same is 

 true of shagbark hickories. Basswood and tulip trees seldom make good road- 

 side trees, but would answer in groups. Sassafras, pepperidge, native haw- 

 thorns, wild crab-apple, native junipers, red cedars, and arbor vitaes are very 

 desirable. 



The secretary said that in preparing the programme, upon reaching the 

 subject of highway planting, he had bethought himself of the excellent taste 

 and love for trees that he had noted in Mr. Benjamin Steere, of Adrian, and 

 immediately wrote him asking for some notes upon this subject. Mr. Steere 

 replied with the following excellent paper entitled : 



ROADSIDE TREES. 



There are various matters that should be carefully considered by all who 

 contemplate highway planting. The most important, perhaps, is to secure 

 kinds that are long-lived, not alone for the enjoyment of future generations, 

 but also because our own and children's interest and pleasure in them will be 

 greatly enhanced by the reflection that even centuries hence their grateful 

 shade will be enjoyed, and their grand old forms admired by all lovers of 

 nature. Of minor consequence are habit of growth, shade of green, time of 

 expanding, and fall of the leaf, with autumnal coloring, etc. But leaving 

 these and many other things that will naturally suggest themselves, I wish to 

 call particular attention to the want of variety in our planting, and the 

 monotonous effect of long rows of maple, or other single species, that greet us 

 on every side. A foreigner might readily conclude that maples and elms were 

 about the only suitable kinds in our woodlands, while the fact is, we have a 

 great variety, which, if properly used in connection with the above-named 

 beautiful kinds, would add greatly to the effect. It might be presumption in 

 me to undertake to say just how this should be done, whether by planting one 

 side of a highway, or one row with a single kind, and the opposite side, or 

 another row, with a different kind, or by interspersing varieties irregularly and 

 at frequent intervals. Think I prefer the latter plan, as I never seem to tire 

 of the mixed rows of oak, maple, hickory, etc., that have sprung up and been 

 left to adorn our roadsides in various parts of this county. The irregular 

 spaces, and breaking up of the straight, formal row, may have much to do 

 •with this, but am inclined to think that the diversity of form and color conse- 

 quent upon the mingling of a larger number of species has a still greater in- 



