American Notes NORTH CAROLINA

Nothing could be finer than to drive in North Carolina when the roadsides are gaudy with black-eyed Susans, wildflowers and dogwoods. Such spectacles have become more common during the past five years because of a beautification program launched by the state. The area in bloom has exploded from twelve acres in 1985 to about 1,200 now. But money problems may keep the program from blossoming much more.

Fees for vanity license tags support the program, but last year the state legislature decided to hike the charge from $30 to $40. Orders for the plates * plummeted from 60,354 between October 1988 and June 1989 to 31,122 in the comparable period that just ended. As a result, only 280 new acres of roadside will be planted this year, vs. 350 acres added in 1989. What price vanity?