ROADWAY ADORNMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23885, 12 August 1939, Page 21

ROADWAY ADORNMENT

PLANTING ON THE NEW HIGHWAYS ■ Whilst there is much complaint about marring the countryside _ with new roads and the spread of building in all directions, we meet some instances where it is evident that care is being taken to mitigate the evil, so far as possible, by utilising all available space for planting something that will give colour and beauty of foliage to break the monotony of concrete, bricks, and mortar. Even these efforts are sometimes criticised on the score that the selection of subjects and positions reveals too little knowledge of the needs of tfees and plants and their adaptability to strange environment Big, coarse, deciduous trees are not always suitable for street planting, or even for formation of avenues on wide arterial roads, but it makes a wonderful difference to the outlook if banks and stretches of wayside can be furnished with shrubs of sufficiently strong constitution which will produce in their season colourful flowers and attractive foliage. Early last spring we saw a commendable example of successful treatment of such situations when passing through that, broad outlet from London known as Hendon Way, Along this road a tremendous amount of motor traffic passes 'n its way from the metropolis out towards the Great North road. Here, dwelling houses are set well back from the motor track, and along the intervening spaces appear at frequent intervals widelystretched groups of early-flowering shrubs, among which forsythias play an important part. The particular brilliance of this yellow and quite early-flowering plant presents a cheering aspect to the traveller, and must be a delight to all residents of adjacent houses. . In other parts, berberis affords a change, and even the golden gorse, some of which doubtless had been reprieved from destruction when the road was made, add tc the shining gleams of gold, and show themselves as capable of enduring proximity to habitation as the gorse is to revelling in the peace and quietude of the open heath.

Authorities in other districts where by-pass roads stretch far across the country, might, well take an example from Hendon Way. and plant, if not these particular subjects, others which are equally suitable for the purpose.— R. 0. Amer in Amateur Gardening.