anaheim-gazette 1909-09-16

TREES BY THE ROADSIDES IMPROVEMENT OF COUNTY THOROUGHFARES A LIVE TOPIC Information in Paper Read at Farmers' Institute—Cost of Planting and Maintenance Mere Bagatelle Compared with Beautifying Landscape J. H. Reed, tree warden of Riverside read a paper at the recent farmers' institute at Orange upon the subject, Improvement of County Roadsides, which contained many facts of timely interest. In part he said: Not only are town people spending more money in embellishing the outward appearance of their homes, but their business places are being made attractive as never heard of before. Factories, instead of being housed in homely barn-like structures are now often found in buildings with pleasing architectural effect, surrounded by large grounds set to lawns and trees. The common shops must have their expensively beautified frontages. While most of us country farmers are not doing much to make our frontages beautiful. Our ordinary road-sides in California are as a rule anything but attractive. As to the possibility of ornamenting them, there is no more doubt than the possibility of raising cereal crops or fruit trees within the property lines. The question is simply, "Is it worth while? Will it pay? Once settled that it is worth while and we will quickly see our Southern California highways beginning to be ornamented in such ways as will eventually make them the most beautiful and extensive pleasure drive ways in the world. How to Begin The roadsides should be cleared of two or three years to develop the body sufficiently stiff to hold a later heavily foliaged top. These low side branches, to encourage the proper upright growth of the main stem, should be kept shortened in and gradually removed as the stem grows stronger. Treated in this way the comparatively light stake used to support the young tree when planted will be all the supports needed; while if pruned to a clean stem from the first, heavy staking will be required for three or four years. As to later pruning, the pepper should be pruned sufficiently high to relieve the sky line beyond and all improved frontages and landscape between. With some checking back of the stronger top branches, a symmetrical permanent top is easily secured. All this might indicate expensive care, but if the work is done intelligently and at the right time, it need not be expensive. A beautiful row of peppers may be secured about the entire frontage of a farm at the expense of time that would scarcely be missed from the farm work. In spite of heavy cutting when young, at the age of four or five years, we may have well developed shapely trees, 20 to 25 feet high, with a spread of 15 to 20 feet with straight stems sufficiently strong to sustain the tops in heavy winds, and a few years later, with proper care, if trees are on both sides, they can be trained to arch over the ordinary country road, and some day not far in the future we shall have many miles of this sort of delicious, shaded driveways. But the pepper should not be planted without assurance of suitable care. The Eucalyptus The blue gum probably makes our finest country avenue trees, but it should be planted only where it will have plenty of room when fully grown and where it will not be in we think is just. We commend root bed by more than 2 1/2 ft. the soil is easy to make the hole with better soil we prepare eceive but a 3 pint can.The ready for plant thoroughly seals ball from the deep trench tree as far earth will allow. A suitable the young tree enough the ground being watering, ing is repeated. If this is not four times during two or three tivation during irrigation (said doing plants). All this may stretches of and after-care matter, but it ticable the hoos loosely filled comes hard in two men will long stretch odically and and if well do uniform grow. Since comm planting, we trees on our casualty we h fourth of one had trouble w town and loo in suburbs an doubt than the possibility of raising cereal crops or fruit trees within the property lines. The question is simply, "Is it worth while? Will it pay? Once settled that it is worth while and we will quickly see our Southern California highways beginning to be ornamented in such ways as will eventually make them the most beautiful and extensive pleasure drive ways in the world. How to Begin The roadsides should be cleared of all unseemly objects and such obstructions as would interfere with cultivation. One plowing in spring followed by one or two cultivations till lack of moisture prevents further growth of vegetation, provides clean roadside margins till the rains come again, when they, in many places at least, will be covered with a pleasing green during the winter, a great improvement over the usual dusty lining of dead grass in summer and tangle of dead and green grass and weeds in winter, amply paying for the little cultivation at springtime. Roadside Trees There is a general agreement, I think that our country road sides should be bordered by shade or ornamental trees, and I need not argue this point, but will address myself to the more difficult matter of how best bring this about. First as to varieties most suitable for the purpose. I take it for granted that your soils and other conditions are not greatly different from ours in Riverside county, and speak with reference to conditions there. The intelligent choice of varieties of trees for the road sides is a more important matter than often supposed. The fact of frequent undesirable results after long waiting for trees to grow is one reason why more are not planted. In selecting street trees for town or country, longevity should be carefully considered. Short lived trees should not be planted, however desirable otherwise. The character of the trees when they are grown should also be carefully studied. Some varieties, very beautiful when young, are quite undesirable for the street when grown. Hardiness as to drought resisting qualities, extremes of temperatures, etc., as well as adaptation to special localities and soil conditions, must have attention. Some desirable trees that do very well on home grounds where they can have special attention are un both sides, they can be trained to arch over the ordinary country road, and some day not far in the future we shall have many miles of this sort of delicious, shaded driveways. But the pepper should not be planted without assurance of suitable care. The Eucalyptus The blue gum probably makes our finest country avenue trees, but it should be planted only where it will have plenty of room when fully grown, and where it will not be injurious to adjoining property. It is easily and quickly grown, but is a gross feeder, the roots depredating severely on adjoining fields. Its bark shedding is objectionable, especially along alfalfa or grain fields. On the street the blue gum should stand not less than 40 or 50 feet apart to secure spreading growth and best type of individual trees. I have found by actual measurement blue gums where they had plenty of room, with a spread of 80 feet—magnificent individual trees, and together making the grandest avenue effects. The Sugar Gum The sugar gum is a slower grower, roots depredating less on adjoining fields, smooth stem and the best drought resisting tree we have, with plenty of room and early checking back of main stem, it holds its lower branches and makes a fairly wide spreading and shapely, handsome top. Its foliage is a pleasing tint of green and very beautiful in form. I consider this, with intelligent handling, one of our most desirable roadside trees. Deciduous Trees While I think semi-tropical evergreen trees much the most desirable for our Southern California roadsides there are roads so located or of such character as to become muddy in winter time if shaded. In such locations deciduous trees should be used. The Arizona Ash has proven a desirable roadside tree where evergreens could not be used. Some of the maples and elms serve well. The cotton wood is not desirable. I do not think fruit trees of any kind should be used on the streets. Where winter shade is not desirable, and conditions favor the walnut it makes a fairly good summer shade tree. All trees thus far mentioned are cheaply provided and quickly grown. Palms Along orchard property where the gross feeding trees would be objectionable, the fan palm is probably the The character of the trees when they are grown should also be carefully studied. Some varieties, very beautiful when young, are quite undesirable for the street when grown. Hardiness as to drought resisting qualities, extremes of temperatures, etc., as well as adaptation to special localities and soil conditions, must have attention. Some desirable trees that do very well on home grounds where they can have special attention are unsuitable for the streets because of the expensive care required to secure satisfactory growth. Varieties The pepper is undoubtedly the most popular tree for the street we have in Southern California. Its quick growth, its graceful shape when properly treated, its beautiful foliage and pleasing tint of green, combine to make it a most desirable ornamental as well as shade tree. It takes the position here among shade trees that the maples occupy in the middle states, the elms in the far east and the oaks in the south. It is true that the pepper as often seen with crooked stem and untrained top, is not a pleasing tree. But these features are not a necessity. It needs intelligent care from the first, to which it responds readily, and easily because—to my mind—the most beautiful road trees we have. The pepper is easily grown. After becoming well established with a little summer cultivation for the first few years, it stands the dry summers well, without irrigation. It should have plenty of room—50 ft. apart is not too much, to secure beauty of individual trees, and at that distance they fill the space when mature. It needs intelligent care when young. Because of its very flexible stem side branches should be allowed to grow well down for the first cotton wood is not desirable. I do not think fruit trees of any kind should be used on the streets. Where winter shade is not desirable, and conditions favor the walnut it makes a fairly good summer shade tree. All trees thus far mentioned are cheaply provided and quickly grown. Palms Along orchard property where the gross feeding trees would be objectionable, the fan palm is probably the most desirable roadside tree. It is a beautiful plant from the first if kept vigorous, giving a pleasing semitropical effect, and when grown, our most stately tree. There are several other varieties of tree proven suitable for the roadside. One or two varieties of the acacia, the magnolia where there is plenty of moisture, the camphor if it can have good care. The Monterey cypress and pine do well in many localities but are too short lived for permanent trees. Planting Now with variety decided on for a given frontage, a given street or neighborhood, how may the trees be best planted and cared for. In the east with their slow growing, hardwood varieties, to secure as quick effects as possible, large trees are chosen for city streets and country roadsides. With our quick growing varieties I much prefer small trees, grown in cans, for best permanent results as well as economy. We can get more satisfactory trees at a fraction of cost. In eastern cities street trees cost planted, as per official reports, from $2.90 to $4.40, while here the cost of tree planting need not be more than from 50c. to $1 each. As to manner of planting and after care, instead of theory you will allow me to give our own actual practice, which after several years experience we think is justified by results. We commence with making a good root bed by digging holes not less than 2 1-2 ft. deep and wide; where the soil is especially unfriendly, we make the hole larger and partly fill with better soil. These large holes we prepare even if they are to receive but a 3 1-2 ft. pepper from a pint can. The earth is filled back into the hole, as they are made. When ready for planting, the loose earth is thoroughly settled with water. The ball from the can being properly set, a deep trench is made around the tree as far from it as the loose earth will allow and filled with water. A suitable stake is put in and the young tree tied. As soon as dry enough the ground is properly cultivated and heavily mulched. Before the ground becomes dry, the trenching, watering, cultivating and mulching is repeated. If this is properly done three or four times during the first summer, two or three times the next, with cultivation during the winter, further irrigation (save a few of the poorer doing plants) will not be necessary. All this may sound as if long stretches of country road planting and after-care would be an expensive matter, but it need not be. If practicable the holes should be dug and loosely filled in before the ground becomes hard in the spring. This done, two men will plant and care for a long stretch in a day, if done methodically and with proper appliances, and if well done the quick rapid and uniform growth is remarkable. Since commencing this system of planting, we have put in over 8000 trees on our streets. Except from casualty we have lost less than one-fourth of one per cent. At first we had trouble with unhitched horses in town and loose or tethered animals in suburbs and on unimproved streets are a few who see to it that their frontages are planted. Sometimes the right tree is selected and properly planted and cared for. More frequently the selections are injudicious and ill cared for after planting. But as a rule the majority of the streets are not planted at all. All this is now being quite changed in our more progressive towns. It is being recognized that the street parking places do not belong to the adjoining property owners to do with as they please but to the city—as do the roadways and sidewalks, and that it is as much the business of the city to see to it that they are beautified as to see that proper sidewalks are made. In short that the beautification of our city streets should be under municipal control, as are the sidewalks and roadways, and this is now being adopted in many cities in all parts of the country. This is the only plan under which our towns will ever be intelligently, systematically and generally beautified. This is just as true of country roads, and last winter our state legislature passed an ordinance providing for the planting, care and protection of shade and ornamental trees and other adornment, which will prove of vast value to such counties as avail themselves of its provisions. It provides that the Supervisors of any county may appoint five persons to act as a county board of forestry, which shall have entire control of the selection of varieties, planting, care and protection of all trees and other roadside beautification. This county board of forestry is to appoint a suitable person to act as county forester, an executive office of the forestry board. I am confident that the most enterprising and progressive counties of Southern California will promptly avail themselves of the benefits of COMMERCIAL TIMBER Eucalyptus a Factor In Upbuilding California [Contributed to The Gazette.] When the founders of the nationhewed their way through heavy forests to build homes, provide fueland to raise crops for sustenancethey did not dream of the possibilityof this nation ever being timber hungry; neither could they see thatwith their extravagant, indiscriminatslaughter of the groves, they hasstarted this country.on a careerofforest dissipation which would makeours a treeless land unless checkedby foresight, economy or reforestation. The present generation has havel brought forcefully by statistics,theunveered conditions as revealed inthe inventory of the forests.It is universally understood that a safeguard must be thrown around our resources,and that quickly,and forall practical purposes eucalyptus seesthrough United States governmentresearch,to be best adopted tobecome the future commercial tree forreforestation. The reasons which have broughteucalyptus into popularity are numerous and argumentative and havesimply to be stated to prove theirpracticability. The nation need not worry andfret over the exhaustion of the lumber supply, when it can have treesthat will grow to marketable size10 years with a diameter of 2 to4feet and a height of 125 to 150 feettrees whose timber can be cut anshipped commercially,and whosetrunk will send out new sproutsfornew trees immediately,affording indefinitely,timber,better at eachsprouting;trees that scattered overthe country singly or in forests wi Since commencing this system of planting, we have put in over 8000 trees on our streets. Except from casualty we have lost less than one-fourth of one per cent. At first we had trouble with unhitched horses in town and loose or tethered animals in suburbs and on unimproved streets. A rigid ordinance remedied this; out of over 2000 trees planted this season we have lost less than a dozen from all causes. I speak of this because there are always some who insist it can not be done. Will It Pay Here then, with intelligent planting at a comparatively small cost, after three or four years of systematic but not expensive care, we may have well established trees that already completely change the face of the landscape, and in a few more years will have changed the tiresome, glaring country road into a shaded, beautiful avenue, through which the farmers' homes will have taken on a new and attractive interest. And the beauty of it all is that while the modern joy wagons are requiring constant expense to keep up your good roads, after you have built them at large cost, the bordering trees will be only the more beautiful and serviceable for the passing years and will continue to be till your great-grandchildren enjoy them on their way to visit the country homes of their ancestors. I enthusiastically believe in this roadside planting. I know it to be practicable. I know it to be immensely valuable to any town, neighborhood or country that will secure it, and I should be sincerely glad if I could help hasten the more general planting in this town and county. You can build a good road in a month—but you must wait years for trees to grow to beautify it. The president of the Redlands Board of Trade was recently showing me about that city. After driving through some of the beautiful streets we were in a section where but little street tree planting had been done. I said "Supposing these streets had been generally planted when the others were, what effect would it have had on present values?" He promptly said: Fifty per cent. From purely commercial reasons our streets should be properly lined with trees. But the county board of forestry, which shall have entire control of the selection of varieties, planting, care and protection of all trees and other roadside beautification. This county board of forestry is to appoint a suitable person to act as county forester, an executive office of the forestry board. I am confident that the most enterprising and progressive counties of Southern California will promptly avail themselves of the benefits of this wise provision for intelligent tree planting on the highways and that we shall see their beautification keep pace with good roadbuilding now becoming so popular. Four years ago I was unable to learn of more than half a dozen cities in the United States having absolute control of their street trees. Riverside was the first on this coast to try it. It is now being adopted by most cities making some pretention to beautify in all parts of the country. Riverside Experience It does not become me to speak of my own town, except to illustrate what municipal control of street trees will do for a place. Five years ago Riverside had some interesting streets, some attractive residence sections, and sometimes passed as a beautiful little city. But it was only beautiful in spots. When visitors came we were careful to take them over prescribed routes. In large sections of the town streets were generally bare of trees. On some streets half a dozen sorts of trees would be found on a single block; some desirable, others utterly undesirable for the purpose; some well cared for, others neglected. Whole rows had been badly disfigured by linemen in freeing their wires. All this has been greatly changed. Our near-in streets, excepting a few awaiting the heavy grading, have all been planted. As a rule blocks or entire streets to uniform varieties best suited to the several locations. The young trees have already utterly changed the appearance of entire sections of the city. Undesirable trees are being taken out. The old trees are being put in better conditions. Linemen are not allowed to cut trees. As fast as new streets are opened arrangements are made for planting their borders. Property owners are consulted as to varieties, etc., and their wishes complied with so far as they do not conflict with the general interests of The nation need not worry and fret over the exhaustion of the lunar bed supply, when it can have trees that will grow to marketable size 10 years with a diameter of 2 to 4 feet and a height of 125 to 150 feet trees whose timber can be cut and shipped commercially, and whose trunk will send out new sprouts for new trees immediately, affording in definitely, timber, better at each sprouting; trees that scattered over the country singly or in forests will conserve moisture in the soil in which they are living, furnish full shade and warmth for crops and human beings; trees that will keep the furniture shops going, support telephone graphs and telephone wires, wharfings and mine chambers, hold up large buildings, pave streets, build vehicles sheathe vessels; and serve any other purpose for which the other hardwoods are adaptable. For two years the eucalyptus must be cultivated, then they discard man-made assistance and shift for themselves. From data carefully compiled by the Forestry Service, it is estimated that one acre of eucalyptus planted to 500 trees of the rapid-growing species averaging 12 inches in diameter and having usual proportions of 1 and 16 inches, contains 100,000 feet of merchantable lumber. The present price is $25 per M, netting the grower an average of $2500 per acre; and the waste tops, the slabs and limbs can be used in the cookstove and fireplace. The longer the trees grow undisturbed, the more valuable they become. Like good wine they improve with age. SEIZURE OF PITT RIVER Water Power Promoters and Their Graft Up State A dispatch from Redding, the county seat of Shasta, states that "nearly the whole volume of Pitt river near the mouth of Burney creek has been located as a water right by former Judge J. H. Logan of Santa Cruz, who filed for record a claim to develop 400,000 horsepower of electricity. This is the most tremendous power development ever undertaken in Shasta county. The canal for diverting the water from Pitt river will be sixty feet wide at the top, forty feet at the bottom and twenty-five feet deep." recently showing me about that city. After driving through some of the beautiful streets we were in a section where but little street tree planting had been done. I said "Supposing these streets had been generally planted when the others were, what effect would it have had on present values?" He promptly said. Fifty per cent. From purely commercial reasons our streets should be properly lined with trees. But the money inducements are far secondary. Difficulties Like everything else in this world worth securing, roadside tree planting costs money and effort. There are real difficulties to be overcome. One of the first probably to occur to you is how the young trees on long stretches of country roads are to be irrigated until they become established. We have found that the amount of water actually required, if properly applied and conserved, is very much less than generally supposed. Of course, along cultivated fields where summer irrigation is used, there is no serious trouble and little expense. Where no field irrigation is done, the water must be hauled, but the expense of this is by no means prohibitive except in rare cases. With a suitable tank water for a long stretch of trees can be hauled in a day, and quickly and easily applied with a suitable hose. If trees are properly planted with suitable cultivation and mulching, it is surprising how well they can be carried through the summer with a small amount of water. Who is to Plant? But the serious difficulty in the way of general roadside and town tree planting is—Who is to see that it is done? The reason our city and village streets are so bare is that the planting has been left to adjoining property owners. In each town there several locations. The young trees have already utterly changed the appearance of entire sections of the city. Undesirable trees are being taken out. The old trees are being put in better conditions. Linemen are not allowed to cut trees. As fast as new streets are opened arrangements are made for planting their borders. Property owners are consulted as to varieties, etc., and their wishes complied with so far as they do not conflict with the general interests of the streets. We insist that the city's interest in its street trees is much greater than that of the individual property owner. As we have gone on from year to year the hearty and general support of public sentiment to the new regime has been a constant surprise to its promoters. What it has meant to the values of city property would be difficult to determine, but we do know that the actual advance in the mean time has been very decided, and that in no previous time has there been so many families finding homes in our midst. But the increased enjoyment of the people at large, by living in a generally beautiful place, is the greatest compensation for the little effort and cost. What has been done in Riverside is but a fair indication of what city control of street beautification may do for other cities, and I am exceedingly anxious to see it generally adopted in our Southern California cities and towns. Concluding, allow me to say that for the better enjoyment and better material prosperity in town or country, there are few subjects more worthy of our consideration than that of better methods of making our country roadsides enjoyable and our city streets more beautiful. Fireless cookers at Dickel's. The water of Pitt river belongs to the State of California and its use for generation of power or irrigation should never be alienated in perpetuity for the advantage and profit of individuals. It is this notorious process of seizure that Secretary Barker is accused of abetting. It is the same process that the now politically defunct McHarg describes when, immediately before his time, taking off, he said: "Leave the west alone. Let it go ahead and develop." Let the red blooded men out there do the work." We all want the west to develop but we want it done with some regard for public rights and the common inheritance of the people. Mr McHarg's "red blooded men" are mostly a band of thieves engaged in grabbing everything in sight. Unfortunately this can be done under color of law in California because of the neglect of the legislature to safely guard these rights of incalculable value. It will be the task of the next legislature to save whatever left from the rapacity of "the reed blooded men," and in the meantime let us be thankful that the police of the forestry service has saved from plunder some substantial right. By all means let us have development, but let it be accomplished under license and regulation, so that no water rights shall be alienated... YOU are cordially invited to call at the GADE MILLINERY store and see the beautiful line of Fall Hats. We will announce our opening soon. Dressmaking and Ladies' Tailoring MISS HEDSTROM Three doors north of S.Q.R. Store on Los Angeles st. FOR Superior Printing The Gazette Office Is Unexcelled. All Kinds of Printing at Shortest Notice. Briefs, Transcripts, Book and Commercial Work. Give Us a Trial. Prices are Right. Prompt Delivery. MACHINE COMPOSITION Briefs, Transcripts, Book and Commercial Work. Give Us a Trial. Prices are Right. Prompt Delivery. MACHINE COMPOSITION BRIGHT FACES New Styles Being Constantly Received A little money Santa Fe goes a long way Back East Excursions Sample Rates Chicago.....$72.50 New York.....$108.50 Kansas City.....60.00 St. Louis.....67.50 Memphis.....67.50 Toronto.....95.70 New Orleans.....67.50 Washington, D.C. 107.50 Low rates to many other points On Sale September 7 to 10, 13 to 15, inc. October 1 and 2 Limit—Tickets sold on September dates will be limited to October 31, 1909 Tickets sold on October dates will be limited to November 30, 1909 Stopover privileges including Grand Canyon and petrified forest. For detail information phone or call on J.H.CLABAUGH,agt. perpetuity by the State. Here we have an example of appropriation of the capacity for power of one of the noblest streams in California by the simple process of filing a claim at the county seat of Shasta. The operation is altogether legal, as the law stands, and by its perpetuity by the State. Here we have an example of appropriation of the capacity for power of one of the noblest streams in California by the simple process of filing a claim at the county seat, Shasta. The operation is altogether legal, as the law stands, and by its means the state loses forever rights of enormous present value and much greater future value. For all this the state gets nothing. It is not surprising, perhaps, in the circumstances that congress is asked to turn over bodily to the states the water rights now protected from permanent appropriation by the forest reserves. We may be ready for that some time later, but not until the legislature shall have shown a disposition to protect the public interest in the water rights that yet remain unappropriated. On the Mend. Bronson—I noticed your wife sitting by the window sewing this morning. I thought you told me yesterday she was ill. Woodson—So she was, but today she's on the mend.—Brooklyn Eagle. Going Out. Mr. B.—There, I've let my cigar go out. 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