Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 185, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1916 — PLANT TREES ON HIGHWAYS [ARTICLE]

PLANT TREES ON HIGHWAYS

They Make Travel a Delight and Increase the Value of the Adjoining Property.

Perhaps the idea of trees of one variety is a good one. But why not a variety of varieties? Also, why shade trees alone,‘if these be understood to eliminate all consideration of peach, apple, pear and the remainder of the 57 or more of precious memory? No man who has been a boy in rural life can see other than wisdom in the suggestion. As for willful rapine, what boy ever stole from the tree that hung its fruit invitingly over the ancient worm fence? Here is an opportunity for the present generation of farmers everywhere to do a bit of missionary work that will cause the coming race to rise up and call them blessed. They themselves will live to enjoy the sweet shadows of the trees. Every motorist will find fresh delight in the drives along the bosky roads. The value of the farm lands adjoining will be enhanced far beyond the cost of the experiment. If the shadow of a rock in a weary land moved the ancient desert prophet to a metaphor adequate to explaining the solaces of his life’s lean journey, how much more highways, glistening white between an Inclosing vignette of green would serve to illustrate the delights of a far better country!