8.  A  State  can  cause  its  forest  resources  to  be  explored  and  its  wants
and  capabilities  to  be  made  known,  and  it  can  cause  useful  information
upon  this  subject  to  be  published  for  the  information  of  its  citizens.
The  State  of  Iowa  has  set  an  admirable  exam  pie  in  this  by  enabling  a.
State  society  to  prepare  for  distribution  an  annual  pamphlet  upon  this,
subject,  giving  concise  and  useful  information  for  the  guidance  of  those
who  might  wish  to  engage  in  treecultnre.
The  State  could  give  additional  powers  to  city,  town,  and  village  gov-
ernments, for  the  planting  of  parks  and  the  encouragement  of  other  im-


200  STATE    LAWS    FOR   PROMOTION    OF    TREE-PLANTING.
provements  in  their  streets  and  suburbs,  whereby  a  refining  influence
would  be  awakened  and  dittused  in  a  manner  tending  to  the  improve-
ment and  enjoyment  of  its  citizens,  and  to  the  promotion  of  tree-culture
generally.  In  order  to  secure  harmony  of  plan  and  eifect,  such  plant-
ings should  be  under  the  direction  of  the  local  governments  as  fully  as
the  constructions  of  sidewalks  or  the  pavement  of  streets.  Where  they
applied  to  a  street,  they  should  be  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  a  ma-
jority of  the  owners  of  property  benefited,  and  at  the  expense  of  the  own-
ers of  the  adjacent  premises,  without  liability  of  interruption  through
the  caprice  or  dissent  of  individual  owners.  Examples  of  successful
tree-culture,  in  parks  and  avenues,  cannot  fail  of  having  a  tendency  in
favor  of  the  practice  generally,  and  this,  if  secured,  leads  to  better  re-
sults in  the  planting  of  timber-belts  upon  farms,  and  in  the  improved
appearance  and  condition  of  the  whole  country.
