Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1876 — Planting Trees at the Roadsides. [ARTICLE]

Planting Trees at the Roadsides.

There is a custom that prevails in some parts of Germany, and perhaps to the same extent in other countries, that is worthy of adoption in this country. I allude to the custom of planting trees at the sides of the country highways. This practice is encouraged by the Government and perhaps required in some cases. The trees are protected by law. The traveling public are at liberty to pluck and eat all the fruit they desire in its season in passing, and the residue belongs to the proprietor.' Now, it occurs to me that this would be an excellent custom to introduce and make universal in this ‘country. There are hundreds of thousands of miles of roads'des <n this country where there is abundant room for a row of trees on each side, and where at present there is not to be seen a tree or shrub for miles together. A plantation of trees along all these roads would soon become one of the most marked beauties in the landscape. How pleasant it would be to the eye and how pleasant to all the senses, if all our highways were converted into beautifully shaded avenues. What a grand sight to see ten miles of spreading maples, or stately linden or magnificent tulip trees. Qr suppose a man preferred, let him plant his lines with fruit trees. At twenty five feet apart one row onetoalf mile long will contain one hundred trees, which would be more orchard than is found on many farms. I think that every one must see that if such a plan could be introduced and carried out successfully it would be a most excellent improvement. But probably the majority of our farmers would look upon it as an impracticable scheme. But why ? Certainly the cost would be no insuperable objection. The growing scarcity of timber and the demand that exists for tree-planting would justify the planting of forest trees on all our public highways. An enlightened statesmanship would justify, if not suggest, the enactment of laws for the encouragement of this enterprise. If a certain amount of taxes were abated for every fifty or one hundred trees planted at the roadside, it might prove an inducement to many to plant Or a law might be passed requiring each freeholder to plant a.certain number of trees each year in proportion to the amount of land owned byhjm. This need not be a burden-that any one would feel, and yet a most desirable public good might thus be secured. In the absence of such legislation there are enterprising, public-spirited men in almost every community who might lead out in this enterprise, and their example wohld doubtless become largely contagious. This would certainly be a legitimate subject for the Patrons to discuss, and through the influence of this Order this plan of tree-planting might be made a success. But if nothing else is done, every enterprising farmer may begin the work by planting a few for * beginning, either this fall or next spring. The work, When once commenced, will most likely commend itself so highly it will be carried on to completion.— L. J. Templin, in Ohio Farmer. —The wife and children of a nigh! watchman at Fall River, Mass., would have been burned to death, recently, but for a poor little “doggie.” The house took fire when all were sound asleep, but the dog by persistent barking made out to awaken them, when they made their escape.