TREE PLANTING ALONG ROADS. 39 



trees are a considerable protection to the road, maintaining the moisture 

 in them which hardens either sandy or crushed stone roads, both by shad- 

 ing the roads from the sun and by preventing their drying by winds. 



Trees should be selected for roadside planting which will interefere in 

 the least possible way with the cultivation or productiveness of adjoining 

 fields, and also which will yield either some valuable wood, nut or fruit. 



For the middle and eastern parts of this State there is no tree superior 

 to the pecan for such planting. Its root system is rather deep, which is an 

 advantage in cultivating adjoining fields. When the pecan is grafted on 

 hickory stock, as can be readily done, it should be on either the white 

 hickory or the shagbark, since these species on account of their very 

 deeply seated tap root and lateral roots, injure adjacent tillable land very 

 slightly. The most important varieties of pecan are the Stuart, Bolton, 

 Van Dewan, and Frocher. These varieties can only be propagated by 

 grafting or by buying grafted stock which can be secured from reliable 

 southern nurserymen. Seedling pecans are readily raised, but even when 

 grown from the largest and finest nuts, will often yield only those of 

 indifferent quality. Pecans for roadside planting should be spaced not 

 less than 40 feet. 



For planting in the western portion of this State the native chestnut is 

 unequalled. While its nut is smaller than the Japanese nut, it is far 

 superior to it in flavor, and is the equal of the Italian or Spanish nut, 

 which is somewhat larger than the nut of the native tree. Those who de- 

 sire 1 can readily graft the Japanese stock on roots of the native species, 

 and if it is desired to grow the Japanese nut, this would be advisable for 

 roadside planting, since on its own roots the Japanese chestnut makes a 

 much smaller tree than when grafted on our native species. On account of 

 its size, however, health and the abundance of its nuts, the native species 

 is to be recommended. It should be spaced 50 feet. 



There are three native hickories which would make desirable roadside 

 trees. These are the shagbark, Carolina shagbark and the scaly bark or 

 red heart. Not only is the quality of their nuts excellent, but their timber 

 is of superior quality and they attain a large size. 



Cherry trees have been extensively planted on the streets of Jefferson, 

 where they seem to have proved very satisfactory, and while such a fruit 

 tree cannot well be recommended for towns, it would make a very desirable 

 roadside tree in localities west of Greensboro, where the cherry thrives. 

 Most of the standard cherry trees attain a large size and remain in 

 healthy condition for a great many years. They should be spaced not less 

 than 40 feet. 



