SUBUEBAN AND COUNTRY ROADS. 59 



shorter cuts for economizing distance. How much indeed, would 

 be done for us b}^ Nature, if we did not in conformity with certain 

 notious of improvement, constantly check her spontaneous efforts to 

 cover the land with beauty." 



In this connection we would remark that it seems hardly con- 

 sistent for town authorities, by the offer of prizes or by other means, 

 to induce the inhabitants to set out trees for the ornamentation of 

 the highways, and at the same time to allow these officers on their 

 own responsibilitj^ to cut down the magnificent growths of centuries, 

 in order to widen a road unnecessarily, or to straighten a line 

 without sufficient cause. We have known this sacriligious act, as 

 it might well be termed, to be committed without the shghtest 

 necessity, and where it would seem that the very exertions made by 

 interested individuals to preserve, only excited the spirit to 

 destroy. 



The introduction of water into many of our suburban and country 

 towns, as well as the existence of brooks and springs, renders easy 

 the introduction of fountains and drinking troughs along the road 

 borders. These may be of the most simple construction, as befits 

 the more rural districts, or they may be of stone or iron, more or 

 less ornamented, according to their position and surroundings. 

 The provision and maintenance of these should be compulsory as a 

 public necessity, and they should be placed upon much travelled 

 roads at distances of not more than five miles apart, and at corres- 

 pondingly shorter distances in thickly settled regions. 



There is a practical point which should be kept in mind as regards 

 watering troughs, and which, if adopted, may prevent the occur- 

 rence of serious accidents. It is that the supply pipe should be 

 inserted into the bottom of the trough, and not rise much above 

 the surface of the water, when the trough is filled ; if it does, and 

 the water is blown about, ice is formed during the winter season, 

 rendering the approach to the trough difficult and dangerous. The 

 overflow should also, in all cases, be conducted in a pipe to a proper 

 drain. 



Walls, fences, hedges, and other modes of enclosing property 

 abutting upon the highways are stiU necessary for protection against 

 intrusion, and as means of seclusion, especially in subui'ban towns. 

 These may be considered as entering very largely into the ornamen- 

 tation of our roads, especially when constructed or kept with due 

 regard to refined taste and good judgment. Where such a neces- 



