Vol. XVII-No. 2

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EDITORIALS.

EMORIAL Trees-We hear of them from all sides, as possible and altogether fitting tribute to our noble dead, who perished in the great war!

Monuments, memorial buildings, highways in addition, are suggested as suitable expressions of loyalty to the memory and example of those who made the supreme sacrifice for the world. It is small matter what form the offering takes so long as it is durable, useful and becoming.

It therefore follows that we need no shortlived trees, nor monuments that are hideous and without any genuine suggestion of patriotic purpose. Here and there over the country we see some suitable remembrance of the soldiers of the Civil War; but the majority of them are as devoid of patriotic suggestion as was the stone from which the thing was hewed.

"Forest Leaves" is naturally most interested in the tree planting form of remembrance. The idea has forced itself into the public mind. We hope that it may spread, prosper and remain with us, for it is distinctly useful from the practical side and it is equally appropriate for memorial duty-provided that all short-lived, diseased, or monstrous forms are rejected. We have in mind one tree which attracts the attention of every passer-by. It is large, healthy, and noteworthy because of its unnatural, conspicuous ugliness. There is not a limb on the tree that suggests the full, flowing sweep and curve of healthy life. Every branch is bent downward, kinked and tells the tale of suppression by some hostile influence. Out upon all such remembrances to those whom we loved and whose glorious memory we would perpetuate! Let our offering be trees that will out-last the centuries; trees under whose ample shade generations may come and name those in whose memory they were planted.

Every school house outside of the cities should have a play ground of at least three acres where all that should be taught in a modern school would have room for development. We are building a new world. Let us build it right. Let there be on that school ground ample room for athletic exercises, for military drill if needed, for gar

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dens for the children, for flower beds, and for all the outdoor training that can enter into a happy, well-ordered home life. And let there be 100m for a memorial tree to every native of that school district who distinguishes himself, or herself, by some act that adds honor, or happiness to the district. The children of each school should be taught to care for and protect those trees which were the pride of the neighborhood.

Before you plant a tree be sure that it is adapted to your region. Some of our native spruce and also our balsam trees are very beautiful trees in the colder parts of our state, but in most of it they live long enough to become of respectable size and then begin to die. The white birch is also a tree of northern origin which of late years has become remarkable by its short life. It would be almost an insult to the memory of any one to plant a tree of such kind for a memorial.

Then on the other hand we know of white oaks five feet in diameter, and of red oaks as large; and of pin oaks and scarlet oaks almost as largesturdy, symmetrical, impressive masses of life and beauty. Among the cone bearing evergreen trees is the Norway spruce, which in spite of its foreign origin, is actually likely to be more durable than any of our native evergreen trees. White pines, if planted, should be planted in masses, where in the struggle for light the main trunks will grow strong and tall. If the white pine is planted in the open it sends out long branches which are too weak to bear the weight of snow that falls upon them. Then too, the white pine weevil and the pine blister rust threaten the pine.

Among our other trees we might suggest as suitable and fairly long lived are the black walnut, the beech and the sugar maple. The hickory trees have the borer to contend with and often die out in a neighborhood before its persistent attacks. For the same reason the locust can no longer be regarded as suitable for memorial purposes here.

Why should not the soldiers themselves each returning spring set out suitable memorial trees in honor of their comrades in arms who have gone before? Memorial Day, as observed by the remaining veterans of the Civil War, is still

sacred to them, but is publicly desecrated year after year as an open holiday, to be given over to sports which crowd out all thoughts of the services and sacrifices made to transmit the Union in its integrity. Truly the human memory is short and requires some mnemonic to maintain recollection of events that the nation would be the poorer for having lost sight of. Properly started and with the definite purpose of allowing no soldier of the world war to pass to the great beyond without a living memorial tree to remind the coming generations of his duty done, our tree planting might become a national custom and a national blessing. Is it not "up to" these men who are returning home from the battlefields abroad, and also "up to" those who serve in the army here fully and faithfully, but who were deprived of the privilege of foreign service, sincerely as they desired it, to join in commemorating their departed comrades? Memorial tree planting is a fitting tribute, and it is also one requiring nothing but willing hands and loving hearts to render it a national custom. J. T. R.

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An Act creating a Department of Conservation and charging it with the duties hitherto attended to "through the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Forestry, the Board of Game Commissioners, the Water Supply Commission and the State Forestry Reservation Commission," has been introduced as Number 642 in the Senate.

The Pennsylvania Forestry Association has time and again placed itself on record as opposed to consolidation of the Department of Forestry with anything else, believing that a department which has in hand the restoration of one-sixth of the State to a productive condition is important enough to require a free hand in its work.

As the proposed act is an administration measure, it is fair to assume that its immediate operation and ultimate consequences have all been properly considered, and that no further comment is necessary, or proper.

One may, however, call attention to the fact that it is hard to understand how the Conservation bill and the Grange bills on Forestry and the Water Resources in Pennsylvania can Coexist as laws without considerable amendment. Possibly Section 33 of the Conservation bill is intended to meet any conflict. J. T. R.

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The first contribution of a million forest tree seedlings from our State Forestry Department has started to France, to be used in forest restoration there an offering of good will toward our sister republic.

Our Summer Meeting.

Our members should not forget that the town of Bedford has been selected for the coming June summer meeting of the Forestry Association. It has been strongly advised that June 17th, 18th, 19th, be the dates chosen for the meeting. That, however, will be definitely fixed at the next meeting of the council.

Bedford is easily reached by the Pennsylvania Railroad, from Huntingdon, and also equally well from Cumberland, Md., or from Altoona and Hollidaysburg.

It is suggested that for those who travel by automobile the State affords no more interesting trip than the one over the Lincoln Highway, from Philadelphia to Bedford. Perhaps it would have been better to have said, no more enlightening trip, because the scenic beauty of the route from Chambersburg to Bedford is really unknown to the mass of our citizens.

The distance from Philadelphia to Bedford, by the Lincoln Highway, is 198 miles, which can easily be done over good roads on a long June day. Or if one elects so to do, the run could be divided, making the first run to Chambersburg, where good hotels await the traveler, and the next day could be taken slowly over the mountains to Bedford.

A delightful return trip would be to go from Bedford to Greensburg, thence via Connellsville to Uniontown and home over the old National Pike to Hagerstown, thence to Philadelphia. The grandest scenery in this State is in its southern half. J. T. R.

The Twin Oaks.

Cover illustration shows an interesting white oak growing on what is known as the Wilmer Cheney farm, near Westtown, Chester County. It might well be designated "The Twin Oaks.”’ Evidently two young white oaks started life together something more than one hundred years ago. They grew together and formed a living union, consolidating the two trunks into one more or less solid trunk.

In this respect these oaks differ from the copper beech described in our last issue, where the surfaces of the two leaders refused to unite until held together by an iron bolt.

The trunk of the oak is, at breast high, 19 feet and 8 inches around.

The loose, flaky bark, plainly seen on the two main trunks, is one of the several distinct types of bark on white oaks, perhaps the least common type.

Spring Arbor Day Proclamation.

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HEREAS, The restoration, protection | and utilization of forests is now recognized as a proper function of statecraft. The one important and imperative duty is to restore forests to every acre of land within the Commonwealth not capable of producing a better crop. The forest products now required by our industries we are obliged to purchase from other regions. Nothing but wasted timber and neglected restoration prevents selling our own timber to our own people as once we did, millions of dollars worth, every year; and

"Whereas, Much of the power of the future will be derived from falling water. The industries of the future will surely be required to depend upon this power. If the timber on the highlands of the State is not restored, the tree-clad hills will be lacking that cover which should be there to retain the rains and melting snows. The water will pass out of the State in disastrous floods, leaving us at the most critical season of the year with insufficient water either for the production of power or for ordinary purposes; and "Whereas, Having fought a victorious foreign war we are now filled with the spirit of the memorial tree in honor of our soldier dead, victims of a great and cruel contest, held in tender memory by the public mind. It is a patriotic impulse to preserve the names of these heroes who made the supreme sacrifice, in a long-lived vigorous tree, capable of outliving the centuries, to bless those who are to come by its cooling shade and its added beauty to our land. For this high purpose no short-lived or puny trees should be taken. The lofty spirit of patriotism is not satisfied with anything but that of the most enduring character. Our native white oak, red oak, pin oak, scarlet oak, elm, sugar maple, black walnut, the pines and the spruces commend themselves for memorial purposes. The grounds about many of our schools are ample for tree-planting, and the pupils ought to be encouraged to plant memorial trees in honor of the heroes of the neighborhood. These children should also be made responsible for their proper care and protection. The experience had and the lesson so learned will be of enduring kind, serviceable to the pupils as well as helpful to the community.

"Therefore, I, William C. Sproul, Governor of the Commonwealth, in pursuance of the foregoing, and in recognition of the lofty and patriotic service to be rendered by tree-planting, do hereby set aside Friday, April 11, and Friday, April 25, 1919, as Arbor Days throughout the State. Two

days are designated so that opportunity may be given to the pupils of schools with an early closing date to participate in the planting of trees. This practice, which I commend to the pupils in our schools and to all our people, is of wise and generous character. In urging the observance of these Arbor Days throughout the State, I do so in the expectation that thousands of young trees will be started on their future growth to bless us in the years to come."

Pocono Protective Fire Association.

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N Saturday, March 15th, an altogether memorable meeting of the Pocono Protective Fire Association was held in the Board of Trade Rooms of East Stroudsburg.

The Pocono region, a few years ago, was the most fire-infested region of the State. There were two reasons: First, even as late as 1914 there was but small general interest in forestry. There was a general impression that it was cheaper to let the fire burn itself out in the cutover region than to suppress it. The second reason was, the Pocono range had to be crossed by the heavy, coal-bearing trains from the anthracite region. Forced draft was necessary to provide steam and spark arresters checked the draft. Consequently sparks flew "thick, far, and frequent." It was nobody's business especially to bring an end to the burnings.

Today that region is under a close surveillance. People have learned the value of even the scrub oak that covers the surface. Valuable holdings now exist there. Summer homes and summer resorts are to be protected, and every spot of scenic beauty has a generous cash value. The Association has a membership of 319. Its Disbursements.

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Honor War Heroes on Arbor Day.

ECRETARY of Agriculture David F. Houston has sent the following letter to the Governors of the States:

"The observance of Arbor Day began soon after the Civil War. A distinguished citizen of Nebraska, who later became Secretary of Agriculture, was the prime mover in securing its recognition within his State, where it first took root; and the Board of Agriculture of that State, on his motion, designated the first Arbor Day. From the beginning it has had a civic motive and an association of patriotism.

"Another and greater war has come to its inevitable conclusion. The cause of righteousness, of liberty, of all that Americans hold dear has prevailed. We shall seek many ways to perpetuate the memory of those who made the great sacrifice. The memorials will take many forms. The names of those who have fallen will be perpetuated by costly monuments and inscribed on enduring tablets. Great works that serve the needs of peace also will doubtless be dedicated to them.

"But along with these memorials, we can easily discover ways in which we may simply and spontaneously pay our tribute to them. We can keep fresh our memory of what they gave; and we can perpetuate their names in familiar places. It has been happily suggested that we may do this by adorning with young trees, each named for a fallen soldier, our waysides, our yards, and our pleasure places. And in most of our States Arbor Day is at hand. This year we may give to that day a meaning more profound, a purpose more exalted, yet also an association more personal.

"I conceive that, if the origin of the day be borne in mind, the invitation to our fellow citizens to join in making it a day 'especially set apart and consecrated for tree planting' may appropriately come from this department. I take the liberty, therefore, of suggesting that you commend to the citizens of your State, and particularly to those in attendance upon its schools, such an observance of Arbor Day as will secure a widespread planting of trees, dedicated to those whose lives have been sacrificed in the great struggle to preserve American rights and the civilization of the world."

The Department of Forestry of Pennsylvania has purchased 20,000 acres in Union, Lycoming and Clinton counties from the White Deer Lumber Company, and 3,200 acres in Jefferson county.

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Private Forestry.

R. Henry S. Graves, U. S. Forester, in an interesting address before the late New England Forestry Conference, said: "The emphasis placed on the public forests in recent years has tended to throw into the background the problems of our private forests. The very magnitude of the National Forest enterprise has created in the minds of many people the impression that the problem of forestry in this country is already on the way to definite solution. In point of fact only certain initial steps have been taken; the most difficult problem, that of the protection and right handling of forests privately owned, is still before us. The importance of the private forests to our country is evident when one considers that 97 per cent. of the timber and other wood products used in the United States is obtained from them. Less than 2 per cent. of the sawmills of the country are operating on public forests. Private owners hold four-fifths of the standing timber of the country, and it is the best and most accessible timber. Nearly the entire supply of certain important commercial species is in private ownership, such as eastern white pine and spruce, southern pine, cypress, redwood, and most of the hardwoods."

He then dealt with difficulties experienced in meeting war demands for timber, the waning supplies of virgin timber, and the negligent forest policy in the United States, as contrasted with the constructive policies of England and France. In concluding Mr. Graves said:

"I am advocating a large program of public forests widely distributed throughout the country; but the solution of the forest problem will not come from public forests alone. Even with the most liberal policy of acquiring additional public forests, the nation's needs with respect to forests in the future will have to be met in considerable part from private lands. We point to the forests of France as having met a great crisis in the war. Do you know that 60 per cent. of the American supplies obtained in France came from private forests?

"You may ask if the increasing interest in forestry of private owners and the operation of State forest laws are not likely to bring greatly changed conditions in the near future. Unfortunately this will not be the case unless a much more comprehensive and effective program is adopted by the public and there is a radical change in point of view and methods on the part of most timberland owners. We should give