The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-13
DYING OUT OF THE PINES.
Some Information for the Park and
Tree COmmissiOn.

Some Information for the Park and
Tree Commission.
Editor Morning News: You published
some days since a communication concern
ing the decay of the pines in Forsyth Park,
in which the chairman of the park and
tree commission requests that some one
inform him why those pines are dying.
That gentleman expressed the opinion
that the pine tree is a very jealous tree,
er trees.
But, if we take pine forest as an exam
pie, we find in it few trees, it is true, that
are not pines; and where we do find other
trees, we also find the local conditions
which favor the growth of those other
trees, viz, low, wet places are seen to be
occupied by cypress gum, water oak, etc.
But It has not been noticed that the sur
rounding pines have pinned to death
through jealousy or any other cause.
On the other hand if we take for our ex-
ample a forest of deciduous trees, oaks,
hickories, etc, we find in it comparatively
few pines, because the conditions which
favor the increase of the pines do not eX-
list. The pines In these deciduous forests
do not as a rule manifest the fatal in
fiuences of jealousy as indicated by the
eminent doctor. Indeed we find magnificent
pines among the mixed forests-pines
which from indications have far-outlived
many of their deciduous neighbors.
Let us rather consider what are the I'M
favorable conditions which cause trees to
die.
Years ago CHANGED to notice, and great
ly admired, a small tract of woodland
quite near ST. Louis. Shortly after I first
noticed this place, some one started a
dairy close by, and the cattle were all
lowed to enter this little patch of woods
The large oaks and hickorieS were well
distanced and had spread into beautiful
specimens, and showed no sign Of decay,
The ground beneath them was light and
spongy. supporting a scattering growth of
small shrubby underground, which pro-
tected the mould ana numuS ana retained
the dead leaves.
But, when turned into pasture or cow
lot the whole moist, spongy surface was
soon stripped of its shrubby protection,
churned by the hoofs of the cattle and ex-
posed to the action of wind and sun, 1t
soon became as dry as powder. The most
freduented places were beaten down haTd,
also wide circles under most of the trees.
We'll I regret to say that in the course
of only a few years the majority of those
beautiful trees were dead-and, by the
vav I am quite sure that jealousy had
nothing to do with it-(they were not pine
trees. however. so we may say perhaps it
was nostalgia!
To come nearer home. say Forsyth Park
was originally a bit of pine forest. Here
also the soil was once light and spongy,
covered with vegetable debris and shrub
nv growths that held the dead leaves and
nrofected the spreading roots from the
driving. killing influence of sun and wind.
Rut when it was decided to convert his
bit of land into park, the
first step taken probably, was to
strin the surface of all the rubbish"
The shrubbery gTowths were grubbed
out. all the soil covering was raked up
into piles and burned, then, perhaps, the
oro11nd was piowed (MurderD. Holes
without end we're dug to plant an excessive
NUMBER of trees Of other sorts, paths
were laid out, etc, and what with Dig
gine and planting and building the whole
of that little pine forest was trampled
over constantly; ceaselessly scratched ana
swept of every fallen lear as II with Ieleit-
less determination to ultimately XIII eV-
erv son Of a cone of pine tree.
Yes. the pine tree may be jealous tree,
he has every right to be; ne mas peen
lrroee1v treated. and he is so sensitive
that Mr. Chairman of the Perk ana Tree
Sor,rnission. IL is now too late to mend
S'attars The pine must go. All you
con 10 now is to take down the pines
nat die--without injuring other trees. if
,,on please (send up a man to saw on
~ limbs Arst)-then notice that there
are vet too many unsightly trees IN tne