The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-05
WHY FEW LEAVES
FALL AT NIGHT
Botanist Marcus {. Jones Ex-
plains Cause.
%-
SUMS HEAT HELPS NATURE
NO TYPHOID Turks IN THE
LooSENED LEAVES.

The average Salt Laker who gets out
these cool mornings 10 sweep the dead
leaves off his lawn and walk, often
wonders why it is that his task is so
much easier than later in the day. when
he clears away and burns those that
have fallen during the morning and
afternoon. So noticeable is the differ
enee in the day and night "harvests"
that many persons have upheld that
after dark the trees did not shed their
leaves.
This premise is declared 10 be in
correct by Professor Marcus Il, Jones,
the prominent botanist of this city
professor Jones has also discussed in
the following interview the oft-asserted
belief that decayed leaves are one cause
OF typhoid fever.
He said yesterday afternoon:
The statement that trees do not shed
their leaves during the light is correct
only 10 this eXtent-that they do not
shed as many as in the daytime. This
is true for two reasons-first, the heat
OF the sun aids greatly the process of
disintegration by which the dead
leaves are freed from their twlgs; sec
ond, breeZes are more frequent in the
morning and afternoon than at night.
Observation shows US that the asser-
ton that no leaves fall at night is not
true. for however well swept a lawn or
walk may be at dusk. there will be
layer of leaves upon them the follow
ing morning. There will be only about
ode-fOurth the amount OF dead leaves,
however. that there would have been
during an equal number of hours dur
ing the daytime. There is bound 10 be
some wind at night, and this will prove
sufhcient to shake down a small guam
tity of leaves.
Hues of Dead Leaves.
There are several deciduous trees.
common to Salt Lake and the state, of
which the leaves are brilliantly colorel.
In this respect not even the maple and
oak can excel the falling leaves Of the
Woodbine which 5 SO extensively Guilt
waited about Salt Lake. The wOodbine
maple and oak are splendidly colored,
rich golden and crimson hues predom-
mating. The locust. cottonwood, poplar
and willow trees also shed their leaves.
These vary i'm color from lemon hue
10 golden. As soon as the frost comes
the leaves are killed. Then begins the
gradual breaking away from the par
ent twig- This is, as have said, helped
by the warmth of day.
But the man with the broom viii
soon have chance to rest for the last
of the leaves will have fallen within the
coming week. Already many varieties
have almost barred their branches.
Leaves Don't Spread Typhoid.
As TO the question whether or not
typhoid fever germs are spread, or orig
mate from leaves which have fallen
and decayed, 1 should say only in so
lar as they make more dust. They
H0nPngl 81 a
TO collect and thus be spread about
when breeze springs up. But the de-
caying leaves themselves cannot be
held responsible for typhoid. Typhoid
is spread generally by flies that have
been in the vicinity of decaying animal
matter. Vegetable matter does. not
create the typhoid germ.
Insects Great Spreaders of Disease.
The insects flying from one place to
another, their feet wings and bodies
becoming contaminated with all sorts
of filth, are the <Orerunners of fever. IT
is only necessary for housewives to pro-
tect the health of the family TO see that
the doors and windows are tightly
screened at this time OF the year for
there is more danger of disease spread
ing now than at any other time. This
is because the flies grow sluggish as the
season. duNanCeS- IueJ are more IKE
" to drop into food and milk, and one
fly is sufficient TO spread disease to a
dozen persons.
1T is TO the interest of everybody to
kill all flies that attempt to take up
their residence through the winter in
the house. OF course one way TO pre-
vent the spread of germs from decayed
matter is To make liberal use of lime
and disinfectants wherever there is any
danger Of animal or waste matter de-
caying. In this way, with the addi-
tional precaution to kill the flies or
keep them out of the house, much
typhoid might be avoided
Don't blame the leaves. They will
fail of the trees, and may get into the
water UP in the canyons. but they will
not spread germs. Burn the fallen
leaves and. the dust problem is elm
mated"