10 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS. 



finds school grounds well planted and attractive. Flower beds and 

 green lawns are often not compatible with the trampling feet of hun- 

 dreds of children, but there is no excuse for the absence of shade trees. 

 Fruit and nut trees, of course, are not recommended for school grounds. 

 Trees without edible fruits and with strong branches are preferable for 

 this kind of planting. The boys and girls themselves furnish the motive 

 power and machinery for getting the work done. They would enter 

 with enthusiasm into the project of planting and caring for the trees. 

 The children may even have a nursery for growing the trees from seed. 

 Many schools are already doing this in connection with their class work. 

 What has been said about city parks with reference to labeling the 

 trees applies to school grounds. The children should become acquainted 

 with trees and their habits perhaps first of all from the trees on the 

 school' grounds. 



COUNTRY ROADSIDES. 



Who would underestimate the value of trees lining the hot, dusty 

 highways of the plains, and along the roadsides throughout our rural 

 communities, where trees are not growing naturally? Yet there is a 

 distinct and noticeable lack of such trees along the public highways 

 of Texas. They are needed to help break the force of the wind at all 

 seasons, to furnish welcome, shady spots, which lessen the glare of the 

 sunlight and to make resting places for highway travelers. Tree plant- 

 ing and road improvement should go hand in hand. In many States 

 this is done, and where the State supervises or aids in road construction 

 it is usually the practice to set out trees or to furnish them to the 

 counties or towns. Some state forestry departments are supplying 

 stock at cost for such planting. In Massachusetts an organized forestry 

 association is using its efforts to secure rural roadside planting by offer- 

 ing prizes each year to the towns which plant the greatest number of 

 trees along the country roads. Many States have roadside tree laws 

 and provide, for the appointment or election of county tree wardens to 

 supervise roadside planting and prevent needless injury to existing trees. 

 There is an increasing interest in roadside planting in Texas as shown 

 by the efforts of women's clubs and other associations. 



Trees should not be so close together or so near the roadway itself 

 as to prevent drying after rains or to interfere with roadway improve- 

 ment. Especially is the latter to be considered in view of the grading 

 and improvements now being made in almost every county. There is 

 a tendency to remove existing trees where they are growing along nar- 

 row roads or too near the roads. Many fine trees are necessarily sac- 

 rificed, but many others are needlessly and almost wantonly destroyed. 

 There should be a law to prevent unnecessary cutting of roadside trees. 



The time will come, and it is near, when all the principal highways 

 will be avenues of travel for thousands of people from all sections of 

 the State and outside the State. Well planted trees on the chief high- 

 ways would reflect great credit on the State and communities which 

 made such planting a reality. Many States take well merited pride in 

 their public roads. Invariably fine trees, either native or planted, are 



