Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-29
THE LIVING FOREST.
Mr.. Pinchot's Lecture at the National
Museum.

Museum.
Under the auspices Of the Biological So
ciety Mr.. Clifford Pinchot, chief Of the d.
vision OF forestry OF the Department of
Agriculture. delivered the second Of a series
Of lectures on Saturday afternoons that Is
being given at the National Museum. His
subject was The Living Forest" and his
long and devoted study to the growth Of
trees enabled him to present to his audi
cree most Interesting talk on the subject
with which he Is so familiar. Stereopticon
Views OF the great forests of the country
assisted In lending life to the lecture, tho
success Of which was undeniable Tho
great forest Of the Olympic range in north
western Washington, perhaps the only
prtmeval OF all the forests Of this country,
ELECTED great enthusiasm on the part Of the
audience. while the different trees as they
grow in the forests OF North Carolina,
Georgia and other portions of the south
were treated with intimate knowledge by
the speaker.
Mr.. Finchot opened his remarks with tho
fallen monarchs of the forest showing q
view OF hemlock upon which the other
trees had shed their seeds, these In turn
having sprouted and begun their growth
toward perpetuating their species. The for
ests. he said were possessed Of Individual
character Ike that of man In the great
cities. those Of the urban variety having
distinct qualities as had their human neigh
bcrs. while those that grew free from
human influence had characters OF their
own.
1.-THE relation of the forest TO the tree"
h said, rs the same as that of A city to a
man. The forest is more than merely
collection OF trees. 1t has character of its
own; 1t possesses fora and a fauna, an
atmosphere and soil all Of its own ard
the trees have relations to each other like
the relations of persons in city. There
are the strong and the weak. the mighty
and the small. the dominant ami vigorous.
The great trees rise above their fellows
and the small. weak ones get shaded out
OF existenceS just as the weaker men in
the cities care boyershadowed by the strong
characters. Who rise to the top rank OF
wealth and importance In the community.
Trees adapt. themselves to their sur
rcundinGS to "a remarkable degree. They
form partnerships with the ANIMALS living
among themoand furnish these with nuts
and fruit In exchange for other assistance
requiredf by 1.-THE tree. The squirrels Giant
the nutSsf for; the trees and other trees rise
flom the seed thus planted and perpetuate
the speies.l This is the part played by the
animals for the trees. but 1t Is not all. The
denizens of the forest fertilize the trees
and assist their growth by pruning their
branches when feeding The forest that
soon become fstunted In growth and event.
uaily pass t9es of existence for lack of the
attention derived from the partnership with
IN Mr.. Piichot showed views Of the animals
OF the forest that were helpful by partner
ship with the trees, and said that the most
remarkable qualities were shown to the
student of the life of trees They repro
duce their Kind after a fashion 50 similar
to that of the animal world thai the sim
larity Is startling to the student VINO fist
learns this secret of nature
The lecture next Saturday afternoon at
40 o'clock Will be given by Mr.. Nelson OF
the biological survey Of the Department Of
Agriculture the subject being "a Natural