THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 453 



THE PARKS AND STREET TREES OF RIVERSIDE. 



By J. H. Reed, Riverside, Cal. 



I cheerfully respond to the request for something about our Riverside 

 parks and street trees. First, allow me to speak of the matter in a 

 general way, for two reasons : First, because I believe the beautification 

 of our California towns and cities is one of the most important projects 

 before our people today, as is also the ornamentation of the expensive 

 highways now being built so extensively ; second, because its encourage- 

 ment naturally comes under the influence, if not the direct management, 

 of those who have the horticultural interests of the State in hand. The 

 element of intelligence, culture and appreciation found so generally in 

 those engaged in the great industry, leads to quests other than the mere 

 accumulation of dollars. I think it would be well if each of the live 

 horticultural clubs — that should be found in every community where 

 horticulture is the leading industry — had an active committee, not only 

 to encourage the beautification of home grounds and surroundings, but 

 systematic planting of ornamental trees in towns and villages in which 

 the membership may be interested, where special organization for the 

 purpose does not already exist. 



From early days the practice of beautifying individual country homes 

 of people of taste, culture and necessary means, has been common. In 

 cities — usually in the suburbs — the homes of many well-to-do people are 

 set in fine grounds, ornamented with trees, shrubs and flowers. Often 

 these ornamented homes are adjoining, making the whole neighborhood 

 beautiful. Sometimes an extended street has been uniformly beauti- 

 fied, and becomes noted as was once Euclid avenue, Cleveland, 

 Ohio, or jMagnolia avenue. Riverside, now. But as a rule the modern 

 systematic beautification of our American cities is of recent date. 



When it was first proposed to place street ornamentation under muni- 

 cipal control in Riverside, the writer went to see how such things were 

 done in other places. In all New England and the Middle States he 

 found less than a dozen cities that directly managed the matter of their 

 street beautification, and none in the West. A few years later he made 

 a similar trip and found a Avonderful change was going on. Many 

 cities had placed the manasement of street trees in the hands of a special 

 department and encouraged vigorous work. Such cities, for instance, 

 as Buffalo, New York, and Cleveland, Ohio, had bought lands for 

 propagating trees and plants, in the meantime planting from private 

 nurseries by the thousands. The city beautification methods of Minne- 

 apolis. ]\Iinn., under the direction of Mr. Loring, was already over- 

 shadowing its reputation as the great milling city of the West. Smaller 

 cities in many states had taken the matter up with enthusiasm. Orange, 

 New Jersey, especially attracted the attention of the w^iole country by 

 the transformation occasioned by its tree planting. 



Note. — It is generally conceded tliat well kept parks and the beautification of the 

 streets by well chosen shade trees, are a benefit to the community, not only from the 

 esthetic, but also from a business standpoint. Riverside and Pasadena, two of our 

 California cities, as well as many others, have given this matter much consideration, 

 and with highly gratifying results. The above article, so kindly written for The 

 Monthly Bulletin by Mr. J. H. Reed of Riverside, we liope will serve as a stimulus to 

 other California cities. — Editor. 



