8o THE FARMER AND THE NEW DAY 



which supply the reservoirs will become a regular part 

 of municipal policy. The matter of parks and play- 

 grounds is of course of little direct interest to the 

 farmer but of most intense importance to the city; and 

 these, in connection with forests as a part of the park 

 system of a city, have to do intimately with soil and the 

 soil treatment. It is not impossible to conceive of cities 

 ultimately gaining some substantial revenue from their 

 forests. This is already done in some places in 

 Europe. The use of trees and shrubs for decorative 

 purposes in streets and parks and in fact the whole ques- 

 tion of what is called city forestry, including planting, 

 care, protection from the ravages of insects, and 

 disease, constitutes a large factor in city planning. 



The Landscape. When we say landscape, we are 

 likely to think of parks or estates of the wealthy, but 

 the farmer has a landscape with him every day. Per- 

 haps he too seldom uses his opportunities to make his 

 surroundings beautiful at small expense. The beauti- 

 fication of country highways, the establishment of vil- 

 lage parks and playgrounds, the landscape adornment 

 of public buildings, schools, churches and Grange halls 

 is too much neglected. But there is the landscape as 

 nature has it. The farmer has access to beautiful 

 views. Does he not sometimes need education in land- 

 scape appreciation? 



Soil Specialties. There are other uses of soils than 

 the growing of food, feeds and fibers. Floriculture is 

 a large industry. The systematic production of the 

 medicinal plants is increasing. Specialties, such as 

 mushrooms, rhubarb, etc., sometimes make quite profit- 

 able returns. Seed farms and nurseries are common. 

 These specialties will increase in number and in the 

 aggregate they will eventually comprise quite a sub- 



