LEAFY HIGHWAYS

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19160, 17 November 1927, Page 4

LEAFY HIGHWAYS

, LONG AVENUES OF TREES. A CANADIAN AMBITION. Highways which for hundreds of miles will be long avenues flanked on each side by rows of maples or other hardwoods, is the dream of the Roads Departments ' of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The policy seems to have originated with the Ontario farmer, who has a great love for trees and has never ceased to regret the day when it was necessary for his forefathers to clear the land of as fine a hardwood forest as could be found in the world. Generations ago many an Ontario farmer, at his own expense, set out a row of saplings along his highway boundaries and these to-day form beautiful avenues. The Government always held aloof from assistance until some six y.ears ago when a "Farmer" Government was in office in Ontario and appropriation was made to forward the work of tree-planting along the highways. Under the policy 14,378 trees were planted by .the Government, the arrangement being that the Government paid 80 per cent, of the coat and the counties 20 per cent., the same division as in the construction of county roads. But the Farmers' Government went out and a normal Government, composed chiefly of lawyers and other city dwelers, came in. On the ground of economy they did away with tin tree-planting era, though later they modified this decision so that now the Ontario Government grants a bonus of 75 cents on each tree of approved species, providing that such tree has been planted for three years, is alive, health}', of good form, and planted in accordance with the regulations of the department, and under iWs direction. Programme in Quebec. Trees must, of course, be fronting on the highway. No bonuses have yet been claimed under this policy, which went into effect only two years ago. The Department of Highways has also the power by Act of the Legislature to plant trees on a provincial highway, making the cost part of the cost of repair and maintenance. The idea which germinated in Ontario has been carried much further in the Province of Quebec, which, four years ago, started an extensive programme of tree-planting along highways. In three years 60,000 young trees have been planted. This year, 25,000 more were installed, and next year it is hoped to plant 40,000 trees, which will carry the number well over the 100,000 mark. "Our object is to make the highways as attractive as possible for travellers," said a member of the Government. The planting of trees will : continued until they are all dotted with trees of different kinds, so that the traveller will journey all day through shadowy lanes, the towering branches protecting the motorist or pedestrian from the searing rays of the sun. Care of the Trees. The Highways Department in Quebec not only plants the trees, but looks after their care as far as possible, having telephone poles removed where they conflict with the trees or , here the branches become entangled. Poplars, elms, maples, spruce, birch, cherry, ash, beech, are among trees most commonly used in the decoration of the highways, with maple most popular of all on account of its national significance. The Independent Order of Daughters of the Empire, a patriotic society of j women in the province of Quebec, has | given its blessing to the tree-planting j programme to the extent of diverting I some of its funds to the adornment of some of the highways near Montreal. Special courses of lectures are provided for the teachers of London County Council schools, including such subjects as the history of costume, use of electricity in the home, voice pro- j duction, and industrialism in the Far I East.