SUBURBAN AND COUNTRY ROADS. 113 



neglected or badly done. If the}' were pruned when young we 

 should not onl}' be saved much expense, but also much unsightl}' 

 appearance, and somethnes the life of the tree. If we look at some 

 of these little points we can make verj- great improvement at small 

 ex^^ense. 



The Chairman said, in regard to Mr. Moore's objection to hedges, 

 that while they would be out of place in cultivated sections, there 

 were man}- localities Avhere they would be in harmony with the 

 scener}', and produce a pleasing effect. It is true that the Paddock 

 ehns were not sightly trees, and so also the Old South Church is not a 

 sightly building, but trees, as well as buildings, acquire a historical 

 interest, and to cut them down is like showing disrespect to a ven- 

 erable old man. There is a difficulty in removing unsightly' objects 

 from the roadsides, especially when, as is sometimes the case, cities 

 and towns are themselves the greatest transgressors, and we have 

 to educate the public to an appreciation of neatness. Stockbridge 

 and Concord are towns where the streets are not only adorned with 

 trees, but pride is taken in keeping them neat. The speaker con- 

 demned the custom of hoeing up the grass in the roads and gutters, 

 as in those adjoining his own estate, where an army of laborers 

 were employed in this work. He had obtained permission, and 

 was removing the clay and gravel from the gutters, and carting in 

 loam, with the purpose of growing grass there and keeping it mown. 

 Nature tries to hide blemishes in the landscape, and it is a disgrace 

 to us if we fail to assist her. A gutter planted with grass will cany 

 off the water on sloping ground without washing. There is gener- 

 ally no necessity for removing clay and gravel, as in his case, but 

 the soil can be cultivated in grass by merely ploughing and seeding. 



Mr. Moore said that there was an objection to grass in the 

 gutters on level ground — the water would not run off freely — but 

 where there is sufficient fall it will do. 



Mr. Wetherell liked the Chairman's suggestion of grass in gutters, 

 but doubted its practicability in many localities. He could ride for 

 miles in many sections of the commonwealth where the ground was 

 too rough to appty the plan. Some of the railroads in Canada 

 have the sides of cuts made into terraces and grassed, and the 

 road bed also is grassed, which has an excellent effect in prevent- 

 ing dust. Mr. Wetherell spoke of the width of highway's, instanc- 

 ing the street at Old Hadley, which must be not far from twent}' 

 rods wide, affording ample opportunity for the adornment by 



