GROUNDS OF RAILWAY STATIONS 229 



he can obtain pleasure from looking at it during 

 his daily work and have a feeling of pride when he 

 mentions it to one of his friends. 



The railway right of way, usually one hundred 

 feet or more in width, offers a great opportunity 

 for making the country beautiful. The entire right 

 of way should always be utilized. The central 

 part of it will be needed for road-beds, bridges, 

 and tracks. Certain areas along the sides of the 

 tracks will sometimes be used by employees for 

 gardens. Such use should be encouraged, but a 

 vast area of unoccupied land still remains which 

 should grow something attractive to look at. This 

 does not mean that railway companies should plant 

 all this area. Nature will generally take care of the 

 planting, but railway companies should keep their 

 men with scythes away from it. A few examples 

 will call to mind successful efforts on nature's part. 

 There are places in northern Wisconsin where 

 the ground along the side of the railways is covered 

 in spring with the white flowers of bunchberry, and, 

 in autumn, with the beautiful red berries of this 

 charming little dogwood. Similar areas are covered 

 with the pink and white blossoms of shooting-star. 

 Along various lines in Michigan and other north- 



