Special Days and Their Observance: September 1919Anonymous
History
Special Days and Their Observance: September 1919
Anonymous
Holidays -- United States; Schools -- Exercises and recreations -- New Jersey
Deciduous trees are so called because their leaves fall at the
beginning of winter. There are many more kinds or species of these than
of evergreens and their forms and characters are more varied. A few
have recognized values as shade trees; many more are interesting or
attractive in the park or on the lawn; others are never found outside
the forest. By way of contrast with that of the conifers, the wood
of deciduous trees is called hard, though many kinds are quite soft,
and the trees themselves hardwoods. Hardwood lumber is often very
beautiful, and is used for many purposes besides furniture, but the
world could better get along without it than without soft woods.
SHADE TREES
One is attracted to a noble oak, a graceful hemlock, a beautifully
colored maple, and wants to live with it and its kind. This desire
deserves to be satisfied, and can be satisfied by encouraging the
planting of trees where they will reduce the glare and heat of city
streets; on lawns and in parks they are more at home and can be
treated so that the beauty of individuals and the values of groups or
masses can be brought out. Especially should they find place upon every
school ground so that the attention of the children may be constantly
drawn to these hungry, thirsty, breakable, burnable, beautiful friends
of man.
The kinds of trees that may be planted upon a city street are few, for
the life is so hard that only the hardiest can stand it. If we name
Norway Maple, Ginkgo, Sycamore, White Elm, Red Oak, the list of the
best is exhausted. Others may often be planted where conditions are
favorable, and for lawns and parks the list of availables is almost
endless, but in any case the wisest course is to avoid novelties and
get some one who is experienced to do the planting.
But more important than to plant a tree is to protect and develop one
already in the right place. This applies especially to trees beside
country roads. A newly planted tree has a precarious hold on life for
several years, whereas an old one has survived many dangers. Let,
therefore, the care of the trees that are found in place be the first
concern. Guard them from all that may increase their infirmities, keep
in check the insects that seek to destroy them, have their wounds
attended to and their branches pruned where necessary. This is work for
one who knows how, not for the butcher who "tops" a tree "to make it
grow"; or for the "tree doctor" who uses cement without knowing whether
it will do good or do harm. Reputable men can be found to do any work
of this kind. Under wise direction there should be no hesitation about
cutting down a tree that is in the way. In many places houses and
streets are too much shaded.
The fundamental idea to be grasped is that every tree is an organism;
in one view an individual, in another a community. We must satisfy at
least its strongest requirements or it cannot live. To the extent that
all are satisfied is the tree healthy and vigorous.
FORESTS
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