68 TREES IN WINTER 



of cutting the brush. On the whole, the apparent inexcusable 

 destruction of roadside trees is largely the result of ignorance. 

 Until the town or county officials in rural communities come to 

 realize the real value of trees, or until public sentiment becomes 

 much keener than at present, this shameful practice is likely to 

 continue. 



It is unfortunate that the farmer's woodlot is so often located 

 at the rear of the farm, instead of along the roadside. Everyone 

 appreciates the short stretches of wooded road in the country and 

 it is hoped that the few remaining roadside forests will not be 

 disturbed for many years. If it should be necessary to remove 

 them at some time it is further hoped that the owners will see 

 the wisdom of leaving a strip of from one to two hundred feet 

 along the roadside. This strip would make an excellent i^lace for 

 the farm woodlot, and for the practice of modern methods of 

 forest management. 



Roadside Planting — In most places there seems to be no reason 

 for the absence of trees along the country roadside. When we 

 consider how easily trees may be obtained and how little trouble 

 and expense tree planting envolves we wonder why we should not 

 have them along all country roads. Suitable trees usually may be 

 obtained in neighboring forests without expense. If each farmer 

 would occasionally spend a few hours in the planting of trees, it 

 would not be long before the desired result would be attained. 

 While the planting of a row of trees along the front of a farm 

 may greatly enhance its value, the result is largely a public benefit 

 and bears the same relation to the community as sidewalks and 

 improved roads. For this reason it would be worth while for 

 every country town to take up the work of roadside planting. 



It is always well to select species that are common to the 

 neighborhood. Exotic forms when found in the country seem out 

 of place and are not recommended for roadside planting. For the 

 sake of uniformity it is well to plant only one species on a single 

 stretch of road. With a view to securing early results, trees of 

 a rapid growing species are sometimes planted alternately with 

 the permanent trees. This practice is always attended with the 

 danger of leaving the temporary trees so long that they are 

 likely to affect the permanent planting. In order that trees may 



