608 



IO"WA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



for ties. In Europe the planting of fruit trees and small fruits has been 

 largely practiced with good success. 



The planting for protection so far as I know has been but little 

 practiced in this country. One system in the east has taken up this phase 

 of the work. The object is two-fold — first, the hedges are planted to pro- 

 tect from snow and winds, and they also aid in land slides. Secondly, 

 the covering of banks with vegetation prevents washing and erosion. 



This planting is generally given over to the engineering depart- 

 ment of the large systems. Wherever moderate sized ground are to be 

 planted plans and specifications are drawn up the same as in the plant- 

 ing of large, private grounds. In this way the details of arrangement 

 and the planting can be more satisfactorily carried out. The principles 



underlying the planting of the ground about the station are simple. The 

 important arrangements are for good approaches, and the ground not 

 needed for approaches should be treated for planting both economi- 

 cally and attractively. It should be in charge of a competent man and 

 looked after by the head gardener or horticulturist of the system. 



Within recent years annual plants have been largely used for orna 

 mentation at the station grounds by all the large companies, but at present 

 there is a tendency to do away with all the annuals which perish with the 

 season, and plant ornamental trees, shrubs and vines. Some of the offi- 

 cials of the road contend that many of the passengers only catch glimpses 

 of the park, on fast trains running at a high rate of speed, and the shrubs 

 have more of a pleasing effect on account of their higher and larger growth, 



