That Roadside Job

That Roadside Job Engineers Improve Upon Arizona's Natural Flora for Benefit of Motoring Public

NINETEEN THIRTY-SIX finds Arizona entering its second year in the field of roadside improvement. The difficulties of the first year are behind us, we are wiser and in some instances sadder, but above all we show a healthy, vigorous progress. An outline of roadside improvement projects to cover the state is taking form, permitting us to work steadily toward a definite goal. Across the northern sector a series of directional monuments will lead the traveler to Grand Canyon, Boulder Dam, and Oak Creek Canyon. In the central and Salt River valley sectors, miles of trees are being planted to provide shade. Through the arid desert sectors, conveniently located roadside parks will give the traveler a chance to rest and refresh himself, while the other portions contain projects suited to their own particular needs. Wherever possible water is being developed and conserved, both for the purpose of sustaining plant life and for drinking. Our field is large, the opportunities almost limitless, and the ground barely scratched, but we have one of the most interesting natural regions in the west, with many unseen interests to be developed for the enjoyment of the public. So little do many of us know of our own state that we believe that California possesses the world's only Joshua forest! Since starting work, a number of things have become apparent, especially in the field of tree trimming and planting. We find the public more conscious of the desirability of shade trees, more willing to grant us the right to plant on private property, and less afraid of the result that trimming crews might produce on their trees. For some unknown reason, the citizens of this state have taken a fiendish delight in topping any and everything that grows over ten feet high. The result of this practice has been miles and miles of ragged, infested shade trees, slowly rotting from the inside, in many cases completely beyond repair. Many, when asked the cause of this practice, have replied that they feared the consequences of large branches being blown by high winds onto their property, while others stated that they wanted wood. In both instances, their reasoning has been wrong. Taking them in order we find that nature has adequate means of protecting her own, and it is only when the hand of man enters the picture that things go wrong. In nearly all cases where large limbs have blown off, evidence is presented that the cause of failure was rot, allowed to enter the tree through improper previous trimming. Utilities have been responsible for much mutilation, due to the fact that they employed men who were Not competent trimmers to make clearance for their lines. The results produced from stubbing and slashing are far worse than the original condition, for the following season a regular army(Continued on Page 18)