220 Journal of Agrtcuh lire, Victoria. [10 April, 1916. 



evidence of character." " Show me your city or town and I shall tell 

 you the kind and quality of your citizens " is a rule having very apt 

 application when the subject of tree planting is being discussed. 



In the United States of America the various municipal organizations 

 endeavour to make their cities healthful and attractive by means of tree- 

 planted avenues and parks. Washington has its beautiful and artistic 

 buildings, but is not noted for these alone. In fact, its chief glory is 

 its splendid avenues planted with rows — some double — of elms, oaks, 

 Oriental planes, and other trees, which make the city like one great 

 park. Brooklyn also has of late years made rapid strides in tree 

 planting, having over 50 parks in which tree cultivation has been made 

 a special feature ; in addition, it has over 150,000 trees in the streets. It 

 was in Nebraska that Arbor Day was first instituted, and its celebration 

 annually is adopted in many countries, being productive of much good 

 by inculcating and encouraging in the minds of both young and old a 

 love for trees. 



In the vicinity of Melbourne we are very fortunate in having such a 

 fine range of tree-planted park lands, stretching from Albert Park in the 

 south to Royal Park in the north, and including, in addition to these two 

 parks — Fawkner Park, The Domain, Botanic Gardens, Flinders Park, 

 Richmond Park, Fitzroy Gardens, Treasury Gardens, Exhibition Gar- 

 dens, Carlton Oval, and numerous smaller areas planted in recent years. 



To the pioneers who, imbued with intelligence and foresight as well 

 as a realization of their responsibility to posterity, acquired these lands 

 and planted them we are indeed grateful. They did their part nobly 

 and well, and the question naturally arises : Are we doing ours in the 

 same way ? It is to be feared not. 



If we take the suburbs, say, between the 3 and 5 mile radius, we find 

 that the reserves of tree-planted areas are very limited in extent and 

 far removed from each other. It is satisfactory, however, to note that 

 those in authority have in recent years allowed the public free access to 

 tree-planted strips and small reserves by having the fences removed. 

 This good work is much in evidence along Victoria-parade and other 

 places. Realizing that sufficient lungs have not been provided, attempts 

 are being made in some densely-populated localities to reclaim small 

 areas upon which slum dwellings are erected. Where successful, such as at 

 Collingwood, Prahran, and other places, the land has been purchased, 

 the old buildings demolished, and the limited areas secured have been 

 made more healthful and attractive, by being laid down in grass plots 

 and planted with trees, shrubs, and flowers. 



The accompanying illustrations show what may be accomplished 

 in this direction of civic usefulness. 



On a summer's evening these reserves, situated as they are in the 

 midst of a thickly-populated locality, are thronged with people — young 

 and old — glad to get away from the stifling atmosphere of their houses, 

 many of which are built on areas of less than 1,000 square feet, i.e., 

 15 feet frontage by a depth of about 60 feet. Such action as this on the 

 part of those responsible is to be greatly commended. The need of it, 

 and the great difficulties to be overcome, both financial and otherwise, 

 in securing even limited areas, should appeal strongly to municipalities 

 and others, and urge them to secure areas for park purposes while 

 they may. 



