our native trees, thus securing the permanent character of the landscape. Besides 

 the esthetic value, there is the historical association and sentiment which are well 

 worth considering. 



EXAMPLES OF WRONG PLANTING. 



There is no more striking example of unwise planting than parts of the road lead- 

 ing down the San Francisco Peninsula, the old Camino Real which is to be incor- 

 porated in the new State highway, where lines of closely planted eucalyptus trees 

 hide and dwarf the low rolling hills beyond. An avenue of eucalyptus trees taken by 

 itself is most impressive and satisfying, with its vista of great trunks and spreading 

 boughs. Taken in connection with the adjoining landscape, and we believe that at 

 least on country roads this is the main point to consider, the effect of the same avenue 

 may be most disastrous. 



An avenue of palms stately and beautiful in itself looks out of place in most parts 

 of California. It is making a feeble imitation of the tropics out of a temperate 

 country, often for a purely commercial reason that is, to please tourists who are 

 even now becoming dissatisfied with this false ideal. 



IRREGULAR PLANTING. 



Irregular planting of the highway contributes much toward preserving the natural 

 aspect of the country. It helps to prevent the "checkerboard" effect produced by 

 many conventional avenues intersecting each other on a valley floor, when viewed 

 from an adjoining height. Continuous shade is perhaps not so much of a necessity 

 in these days of rapid transit. There are some practical reasons which make a scat- 

 tered planting very desirable such as the quicker drying of the road ; more easy 

 avoidance of trolley and telephone poles, when the lines must follow the highway, 

 and less injury from shade to some growing crops. 



In support of this method of planting we quote from a pamphlet written by 

 G. H. Allen, B. S., and endorsed by the Munson-Whitaker Company, landscape for- 

 esters, of New York and Boston. Mr. Allen says, "Along country roads the trees 



should be planted in an irregular manner, leaving intervals of open 



Along city streets the trees may be arranged in a more conventional manner, although 

 broken rows are by no means desirable." 



A SPECIAL PROBLEM. 



The following is one of the problems where the irregular planting of native trees 

 seems the only solution the planting of a highway which on a valley floor crosses 

 and recrosses a wooded stream, at times following it for a short distance. In such a 

 case, if an attempt is made to plant the highway in a formal manner with exotic 

 trees, the treatment becomes confused and absurd. For either the highway must be 

 broken up into sections by the interruption of the stream, or else the graceful fringe 

 of native trees along the bank is ruined by the regular spacing of foreign trees. By 

 scattering the native oaks, sycamores or willows of the creek bank along the rest of 

 the highway, the harmony of the whole is secured. But, could the highway in the 

 first place have followed the stream, along its entire course, the ideal would have been 

 attained. 



NEW RESIDENCE TRACTS. 



In laying out residence tracts in wooded regions, curved roads are logical and often 

 employed, even in a level district. The trees are thus more easily avoided, and the 

 beauty of the groves preserved. Little or no planting of the new roads is necessary. 

 Unfortunately examples are to be seen of tracts where straight roads have been 

 driven through the groves of oaks or other native trees, and emphasized by the plant- 

 ing of exotics, all in utter disregard of the original landscape. 



CONVENTIONAL AVENUES. 



Even when the highway or city street is regularly planted, preference should be 

 given to native trees. The native laurel and big-leaved maple are admirably adapted 

 for conventional avenues. And even the willow or sycamore, though losing in pic- 

 turesquehess, will with care become more suitable for formal planting. 



THE GREAT CENTRAL VALLEY. 



In the valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin the problem of planting becomes 

 more complex and the ideal more difficult to attain. The treeless stretches of this 

 great valley, with the snow-capped Sierra always in sight as the dominant feature 

 of the landscape, have their own charm. But immediate shade is a necessity in that 

 region of great heat ; and there remains only for us to plant in such a way as to mar 



