The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1905-03-30
Habits OF Trees.

Nlilidm -. man. ol tit buItdu vi
Forestry, United States Department
Of Agriculture, writes thus of the
habits of trees:
Tree Companionship.-- almost
every region certain kinds OF trees
are found together. This is due to a
similarity OF preferences in regard 10
soil. heat, moisture and light. Two
trees adapted to the same conditions
will thrive best In the same situation.
The White Ash and Black Walnut are
good examples. Having similar pref
erences, they have almost identical
ranges and are very generally associ'
ated. There is also another reason
why trees accompany one another
A tree may so influence its surround.
ings as TO make them favorable TO an
other tree, where otherwise they would
be unfavorable. AS an eNar pic of
such influence. the Chestnut on sterile,
sandy plains in portions of New Eng.
land forms a much -branched tree.
which shades the ground and keeps 1t
moist and cool Such conditions are
favorable TO the termination of the
White Pine in that region: consequent
ly II is found coming up abundantly
beneath the Chestnut, but not so abun-
dainty on the open, unprotected
ground
Effect of Change In Surroundings
A change in the surroundings OF a
tree always modifies its habit OF
growth. II the change is toward more
favorable surroundings the result is
seen in increased vigor, rate OF growth,
and size; II toward unfavorable sur
roundings. the reverse will be true
The stately Tulip-uee of the central
Eastern states is said to be a mere
shrub in Florida. The reason is that
there IL is out of its range OF adapta'
ton. The White Elm, which grows
with tall and vaselike form in New
England, in the semiarid parts Of Kan
sas and Oklahoma is low and spread
ing like an apple tree. Nor is form
the only variable character. On the
western elm the leaves are fewer In
number. smaller, thicker, and much
rougher than on the New England tree
In other parts OF the tree there are
differences of the same kind, though
they are not so noticeable as those
in the form and foliage. These varia
tons have resulted from the differ
ences In soil and climatic conditions
to which the tree has been subjected
Gradual Change.-The difference ir
form between two trees of the samt
kind In different localities has come
about through gradual divergence o
characteristics. To a certain degree
changes of this kind can be brough
about In practice. When a gradua
change Is made in the surroundings o
tree corresponding change take,
place In the tree itself. Thus II stool
Of tho New England elm be slowl,
moved westward through many gen
erations. 1t will gradually change Ii
form and other characteristics 10 b.
like the western tree; and IL must b.
assumed that this change is ncces
sary to enable it to live under st
new conditions.
Sudden Changes.-Sudden change
in the surroundings of tree treuuen,
ly Cuubt iIs uSdtu, DctdusG u CdD no
quickly change itself to meet the rt
quirements of its new conditions. Tn
New England elm moved at once I
the semiarid west is likely to die, bs
cause 1t is not adapted to the cond
tions Of soil. light, heat, and moistur
of that region. In the prairie marshe
of northern Indiana there are occs
sional knobs which once supporte
thrifty oaks of moisture-loving kind.
Now that the marshes have bee
drained the drying out Of the soil ha
caused the oaks to die. The chang
was too sudden. Suddenness an
intensity of change often account fo
the failure of trees to thrive whe
moved away from the region to whic
they were adapted. This is also wh
eastern trees so often die when move
to the west. This is why nursery stoc
grown near by can be more safel
| planted than that grown in a distan
region. 1t is a practical matter, an
should be generally understood.