The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-20
SOME USES OF TREES.

UtIlItar1ans consider the trunk the i'm
Portant part of the tree. The trunk is a
wise makeShIft of nature which towers
aIoft, and tries to lift the vital organs of
the tree-the leaVeS-out of harms wav
ana into purer air and brighter sunshine
beneath the ground the strong roots and
rootlets nave hundreds of eager, thirsty
mouths which take nouriShment from the
eafth. Water and mineral matter are
carried upward by the process of capiI-
lary attraction to the leaves in the crown
anu the oranches for digestion and as
sanitation. A leafless tree stands little
chance of living. Trees denuded of their
leaves by caterpillars and other rnischie-
Vous things are deprived of their ston1-
achS and lungs at once.
Every leaf on a tree is increasingly in
udStrlous day and night Examine the
linden leaf, or, in fact any leaf will do
the truth applies to all-and notice how
IT'S surface is spread to catch the sun
shine. The under side of the leaf has a
dI1erent appearance. The tissue is tenderer
and shows net work of breat thing pores
a section placed under the objective of
the microscope reveals tiny cells filed
with Sreenish liquid called chIorophvI
winch plays an important part in the
domestic economy of the tree When IN
d1gested food from the ground has been
carried to the leaves the chIorophyI SEXES
IL ana, under the influence of the chloro-
phyI, changes it TO nourishment. The
chlorophyl also breaks up the carbon
d1oXide with which it comes into contact
and liberating the oxygen, sends it out
into the atmosphere.
Digested food materials are carried
from the leaves to all parts of the tree
and aid in its growth Leaves as fbe
lungs, are necessary in the process Of
breathing. Like ANIMALS the tree needs
oxygen and breatheS much after the
manner OF a human being. Not only is
the I1e-glVlng air taken into the lungs
or leaves, but it is inhaled through tinV
openings in the bark, Just as men ana
ANIMALS animal transpire through the skin. These
tiny breathing holes are called lenticeIs.
ana may be seen plainly on the bark of
cnerry and many other kind of trees AS
the tree drinks water it SWeats and ex-
hales water vapor along with the oxygen
cast OH from the carbon dioxide
Tons and tons of moisture are evapo-
rated from wooded areas. This is an
other beneficial act Water vapOr in the
atmosphere IS essential to agriculture.
sures in the bark. where the Ienticels are
Hluuen from sight This is especially
true IN old trees. From time to time
scientists have computed the leaf area
of trees and the results have been as-
IomSnlnS. An ordinary linden leaf has
a surface of ten square inches MuIt;nirr
TINS Dy the number of leaves on a branch
ana calculate the LEAKAGE area of The
tree. This entire surface is Jiberatino
oxygen and water vapOr day ana night.
In the arid sections of the West the oec-
PIE are beginning to see that forestry
ana irrigation are the factors, which will
count for their prosperity. ABOUT Ogl0O9
square miles. or more than one-thiri of
the United States. is forest land The
obstruction of forests has been 60 ex-
travagant that the government has taken
the matter In hand and decided on th.r-
ty-eight reservations where the forests
VIII De under intelligent supervision.
There has been some nisund eIsta ilIiir1.-
IN regard to these reserves. although the
intention is to reserve the forest and on,
courage the growth of young trees. while
at the same time the land available Tor
settlement VIII be increased. AS for
ests conserve the rainfall and Influence
the humidity of the atmosphere. newly
planted forests will wedge in between
FARMS on the reservations and farms 9eu-
citrate the clearings in old forests. Sheen
herders and settlers must be taught intel
l1gent forestry and tree wisdom must be
the tree receives the reverential respect
due to it.-Chicago Post.