TREE PLANTING NEEDED IN TEXAS 



The planting of trees along streets and about homes has been going 

 on since Texas was first settled. Countless millions of young trees 

 have been dug from the woods and bottoms and transplanted in order 

 to improve and beautify communities and homes throughout the State. 

 It would be difficult to find a town or rural homestead where such 

 planting has not been done to some extent. Yet tree planting in this 

 State has barely commenced. There is an unlimited opportunity to 

 grow trees for a wide variety of purposes. We have not yet begun to 

 plan for the future in our tree planting. There is a lack of system 

 and foresight in much of the planting done in the past. We do not 

 appreciate the satisfaction which would be felt in later years- for trees 

 wisely selected and properly planted today. 



Town and city streets should be planted, not as a result of scattered 

 individual efforts, but according to definite plans for the selection of 

 species, regularity in planting, and proper care of the trees afterward. 

 Shade trees are important in front of vacant lots as well as in front of 

 residences. Every city should have its parks, the smaller ones near 

 business centers, to serve as beauty spots and rest places and to vary 

 the monotony of pavements and buildings. Green grass, cool shade of 

 trees and scattered seats attract the visitor and soothe the mind and 

 body of citizens. Larger parks and playgrounds have their place in 

 the outskirts of every city. Ordinances should be passed in order to 

 protect trees on streets and in parks. No city is too small to make 

 these provisions. 



School grounds are often destitute of shade trees and almost invari- 

 ably are less attractive in appearance than other grounds in the com- 

 munity. Country roadsides are not only unplanted and neglected so 

 far as efforts at beautification are concerned, but in some instances they 

 are despoiled of the trees nature has grown there through needless and 

 almost wanton cutting by county road officials. There are many other 

 places and conditions where planting is not as yet considered but where 

 there is a distinct and increasing need for trees. Fence posts and fuel 

 for farms and ranches in many treeless counties can be grown at home. 

 Most farms in Texas need windbreaks and shelter belts to protect crops 

 and buildings from hot, drying winds in summer and cold blasts in 

 winter. Trees as shade for stock and to benefit crops, groves to fur- 

 nish home supplies of fuel and posts and other forms of planting for 

 profit in fruit and nuts, as well as to make treeless farms and homes 

 more attractive, call for new thoughts and demand our present con- 

 sideration. 



The difficulties in growing trees where rainfall is inadequate and con- 

 ditions are not the most favorable for tree growth should only stimu- 

 late a desire to succeed in planting. There are unquestionably many 



