96 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



see that there is anything we can do at all ; that is about the way 

 it looks to me. Now it seems to me the best thing we can 

 do is to get these tree wardens into a meeting and get them 

 together, and then find out just what we would like to do, 

 or what is desirable to do, and then go to the Legislature 

 and get some laws we can work on, for I can see if we don't 

 get together we may be working at cross purposes in our 

 different towns. Air. Hale asked me to look up a few things 

 we might do, but I wouldn't give you any of them, because 

 after Judge Root's remarks I don't think we can do anvthing. 

 Mr. Hale: We will now listen to what Brother Hoyt 

 lias to say on the practicability of roadside embellishment. 



The Practicability of Roadside Embellishment. 



By Edwin Hoyt, Tree Warden, New Canaan. 



Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen: A few years ago 

 I offered the citizens of the town of New Canaan five thou- 

 sand shade trees free of cost, if they would plant them along the 

 highways of our town. Many were planted and our town is 

 better for it. 



Some attention has recently been given by the State 

 towards improving the grade and roadbeds of some of the 

 main roads, leading from one town to another, and the law 

 requires that on such highways trees shall be planted, when 

 such roads have been built under state appropriation. 



Yet there is one serious hindrance to this being perfectly 

 done, and that is the ignorance and selfishness of some per- 

 sons owning land fronting on our highways. Property 

 owners claim the use of the land on the roadsides, adjoining 

 their property, and say the town has no right to these road- 

 ways, only for travel and repairs. 



They also say they have the right to dig dirt or gravel 

 from the roadside (which they feel they have a right to use 

 or sell), thus leaving unsightly places where it has been dug 

 out, and, besides, many use the roadsides for depositing rocks 

 or stones taken from their fields. Thev also feel thev have 



