Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-04-12
TREE PLANTING.
How to Bsautify Homes and In
prove Cities.
Or. Northrop's Talk-Relation Of Forests to
! Freshsts and Droughts-Ssntiment
! on Forestry What
. to Select.

Wheeling is one Ct the homeliest cities
in the United States ana contains fewer
points of beauty than almost any other Of
similar size. 0fcourse her smoke,begrimed
walls attest the manufactures that are her
glory, but there is no necessity and the
less sense in the sober neglect Of anything
like enumeration. What Wheeling most
needs is the identifying presence OF the
tree, the grandest of natures productions.
With the exception of the Island ward
there is no street of Wheeling on which
any special effort has been made looking
to adornment; on the contrary, what
few trees did exist have been
ruthlessly cut away. The lindens in front
of the Exchange Bank stand almost soli-
tary and alone and even they had narrow
escape at the hands of the retailers along
the street. 1t is believed and hoped that
an improved state OF affairs is about to
dawn aud that a lasting interest has been
created in the subject of identifying the
city. State Superintendent Butcher has
made good move in this direction, in the
appointments of Arbor Day; Supt. Birch is
experimenting it, by creating an interest
in the schools, and DR.. B. G. Northrop, by
his experienced and practical talks, is
lending much encouragement to the
scheme.
Or, Northrop delivered one of these
tails, last night, to a large audience IN the
Hsll Of Delegates, at The Capitol. Inc
greatest good, be went on to show, is
wrought by the local Rnral Improvement
Associations, by little, but practlcal an0
sysi,maIic work. Such ORGANIZATIONS build
up al d circulate sentiment, which Is the
biy end Of such matters. In Europe, the
sediment OF forestry is so general and an,
Gent, that large colleges are maintained
| for n ether purpose and the governments
are constantly conducting experiments 70
show the intimate relations between
we'll stocked forests and the spring freshets
and summer droughts. This relation was
briefly and concisely explained. When
the mountain and hillsides are covered
with trees, the ground is cushioned with
heavy deposit of leaves, which act as q
huge sponge and contain the water. Inc
ground beneath is protected from frost and
soaks up large quantity OF water, while
the tree roots act as drain pipes aud carry
the fluid down to the sources OF the
springs, which feed the streams in sum-
mer time. Thus the trees not only pre-
vent The disastrous freshets in spring, but
provide water to prevent droughts in sum-
mer.
Speaking OF the planting of trees DR..
Sorthrop said much Of success depen leo
mon the selection OF proper trees and the
ofoper time Of planting them. The Faro
Dean larch is very suitable. Not only is II
a hardy plant and rapid grower, but this
climate and soil suited it most admirably
and il was bound 10 flourish here. Two
year olds were the right age to transplant
and the early spring the proper time. he
| was afraid, however, 1t was now too late
| this year for the larch. The West Virginia
L tulip or poplar was good tree, none bet
| ter, and had every desirable feature and the
l white ash was also admirable. In plant
ing tn Sc forest trees, the mistake is m ade
| in getting them too old. They should be
| aiken when quite young and will then
| always flourish. There is nothing prefer
| or more graceful than our Virginia creeper,
| 40 common to the woods of this locality and
| DR.. MOI throp was bstoL ished that more oil
l il was not in use on the houses about
| Wheeling. 1t is hardy, grows rapidly aud
makes beautiful appearance, It IS ill
| lacy to suppose vines promote dampness;
| the contrary is t ne.
DR.. Northrup is of the opinion that not
| ONLY the beauty of the houses Of com
| munity, but the welfsIe of nation de-
| ponds largely on the householder, and eV
| cry man should own his home. His re-
| sponsibi,ity is then increased. He was
l slsd TO learn that nearly every househol.
| ieI on the Island was house owner, and
l be made the assertion that the hope OF q
| nation is in the homes of the people. be
closed his very interesting talk with some
| pleasing generallties.