TREE PLANTING XEEDED IN TEXAS. ? 



other species would be preferable. One should determine which species 

 seems to be the best available for planting and then give the utmost 

 care to digging, planting and later care of them. 



CITY PARKS. 



The time to establish city parks is when towns are small and land 

 is cheap. There are notable examples among the newer towns of west- 

 ern Texas where areas have been donated, or purchased, and set aside 

 for future parks and playgrounds. In many towns areas unsuitable for 

 building purposes, such as stream banks and uneven land, may be 

 cheaply and wisely selected for park purposes. Suitable parks are rare 

 in towns or cities with populations of less than 8,000 to 10,000 persons. 

 The future importance of parks is little considered by the people of 

 smaller communities. Public spirited persons owning real estate in 

 small places could leave no better monument than the gift of a park 

 site to their towns. Boards of trade, women's clubs and other organi- 

 zations can render a real service to their fellow citizens by working 

 for their establishment. The time must inevitably come when a city 

 without parks must spend large sums of money in order to obtain them. 

 This is true of park development in many of the large cities today. 



The stranger is greatly impressed by the appearance of a city which 

 has parks and rest places scattered conveniently about the business as 

 well as the residence sections. He goes away feeling he has visited a 

 place which he would be glad to make his home. Such a city is bene- 

 fited in a business way, grows in population, improves in the health of 

 its citizens and increases in the esteem of every visitor. There are 

 many types of parks which add beauty to a city. Among these are 

 small triangular plots at intersections of avenues, narrow strips of green 

 here and there, open land about public buildings and rest places near 

 busy streets, with convenient benches, plenty of trees for shade^ green 

 grass, flowers, shrubbery and drinking fountains, where people may stop 

 for a moment and children may play. A little care and watering will 

 keep most park lawns in fine condition without the necessity of annoy- 

 ing "keep off the grass" signs. 



Trees should be planted in parks as soon as they are established, even 

 if other improvements are not made at once. In the larger parks as 

 many different species as possible should be selected and the trees 

 labeled so that people may learn to distinguish them by name and in- 

 crease their interest in trees. If the soil about the trunks is loose, free 

 from grass and well watered there are kinds of trees without number 

 which can be grown in every section of Texas. In many of the new 

 cities of the Panhandle there are parks in process of development which 

 will be a lasting tribute to the foresight and progress of their citizens. 

 The fine old cities of the United States which appeal to the resident, 

 and visitor owe much of their attractiveness to the parks and trees. 

 Let us plan ahead so that our towns, rapidly increasing in size and 

 importance and destined to become prominent cities of the future, may 

 have the benefit of well arranged parks and beautiful shade trees. 



