MUNICIPAL AMENITIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 4, 25 April 1914, Page 5

MUNICIPAL AMENITIES.

THOSE BROADWAY TfiEES. XTo This Editor Stratford Post.] Sir,—lt was painful to listen to Mr N. J. King speaking last night about this attempt at town beautification. ' It seemed to me as though he gloated over its apparent failure, simply because Mr Kirkwood had had something to do with it. There was no need for the sneering manner of referring to the work. Much better would it be if Mr King would do something towards the beautification of the town, or, as an aspirant to •the mayoral chair, he would undertake to encourage the movement, should he be honored by his fellowtownsmen. Mr K(|pg said he thought there was not one tree alive. At the time of planting, as a member of the Beautifying Society, I questioned the wisdom of planting such large trees, when the sap was already moving, and also wished to see ash oi elm trees planted, but when the present trees Nvere planted, one hoped they would thrive and the experiment prove successful. Mr Kirkwood took what steps he could—m the matter of preparing the ground—to make it so. Apart from the need for better preparation of the trees and the choice of a more suitable season as factors for success, the past summer, being an exceptionally dry season, has not been conducive to the establishment of the trees. I inspected them, and of the 3G planted, 10 are alive and 26 dead. The planting is, therefore, to a great extent, . A failure. But the whole of the money expended, however, is not lost. The trees themselves were donated by the Domain Board, free of cost. The ground is prepared and the protective works available for now trees. The Domain Board, will, I feel sure, donate more trees, if available.—l am, etc., PERCY THOMSON, Vice-President, Stratford Beautifying Society. 25-4-1914.