Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-31
A USEFUL
Tree-PIantIng Promoted by the So
ciety of Ar~bOricu1ture.
Boston Transcript

Boston Transcript.
BY the death OF Hon. ]. Sterling Morton
the International Society of Arboriculture
is bereft OF its president and the secretary,
John P. Brown Of Indiana, we'll known to
tree lovers in this city and New England,
has issued a call for the election Of his
successor. 1t is the present purpose to
hold the election in Indianapolis, probably
July 8. 1t strikes us that it will be a
matter of some difficulty to get a large
number Of members together for such a
purpose, because the society is what it
processes to be, International, and they are
scattered all over this and various other
countries. There are about fifty members
in Boston alone and a hundred or more In
New England. The European states have
many hundreds and there are large con-
tingents in both Canada and Australia.
Not only is its representation a wide
one, but 1t is a society that does some
thing. Its late president succeeded in
establishing an "arbor day" in most OF the
states, for the purpose OF awakening a
definite interest In tree-planting, especially
among the rising generation. Whether the
new institution accomplished as much as
be hoped We do not know, but 1t has ac-
complished something, II only to remind the
people of this country once a year Of the
Importance of arboriculture and fix their at
%tention. even il only for a brief period, on
an interest that is rapidly becoming vital.
II is only by steady and organized effort,
however, that definite progress can be made
and large results obtained. There must be
knowledge as well as zeal. AS a matter OF
fact the knowledge must come first and then
zeal is almost sure to follow.
Secretary Brown has been indefatigable
In his labors to promote those interests
which the society is organized to advance.
His missionary efforts have been put forth
north, south. east and west. He has worked
to a considerable extent for the society
through the railroads and has awakened an
interest that is very gratifying. The I'LL
nois Central has planted 10000 trees on a
| plantation a few miles from New Orleans
and 1000 near Kankakee, Ill. The Big
Four planted 40, 1000 trees two years ago
and they are now strong and thriving. The
Boston & Maine has planted recently 10000
and the Boston q Albany a smaller mum
Der. The Southern Pacific is about to en-
gage in the enterprise on a large scale. The
Rio Grande & Western has 5000 young
trees to its credit in Utah and the Michi-
gan Central has established a regular de-
partment Of tree planting. The Kansas
City, Fort Scott & Memphis road has gone
49, AahC ~
planted 2,500, 900 trees in 1000 acres Of land
purchased for that purpose.
Responsible capitalists have authorized
Mr.. Brown to purchase and plant 5000 acres
in the west, so that the movement Is TAX
ing on larger proportions all the while.
AS the railroads run everywhere their ex-
ample is likely to be contagious. OF course
they grow trees for the benefit Of their
property, but II that policy will beneht
their property II will benefit the property
Of all other land owners. It does not seem
easy to awaken a lively public interest in
this subject through direct appeal. More
can be accomplished by object lessons such
as the railroads are giving to the people.
The secretary is to a large extent the
working factor in the societys but II is
highly desirable that a man Of high stand
ing IN the service Of Arborieulture should
be selected as its president