New-York tribune., 1906-09-02

them Will shivcr and treMbie at some torrf0o q.
slaught OF wind and seet and, folding II nraaaAss
closer about II. tho conquered tree viii bow n,
head for the last time to the storm.
Further inland. sheltered In . narrow vazs,.
stands sister tree seeded from the same cone ~
the storm conquered spruce. Tho wind shriskD and
howls above tho little valley which 1t sntsr
but the law OF compensation brings to bear another
element. silent. gentle. but deadly the howl
ing blast OF the gale AL through the lons winter
the snow Sits softly down. finding easy loduuu,
on the dense foliaged branches. From the eur.
rounding heights the white crystals until
the tree groans with tho massive weight Her .ia.
ter aoove Is battling with the storm ana hardly q
feathers weigh. OF snow clings TO hap vavfn,
limbs
The distorted branches o. the valley spruce ~,
become permanently bent. and great is the strs,
on the trunk hbres. AT last. with q despatr4n,
crash one huge limb gives way and Is torn BODILY
from It's place OF growth. This very vtals Of ,ha
tree are exposed and Immediately every spin.
tered cell Is Sled with the sitting snow Helpless,
the tree stands. and early IN the SPRING At tha
hr.t ouickcnins OF summers growth. salve OF
curative rosin is poured upon the wound But ~
Is too late. The invading water has done It's work
and the elements have begun 10 rot the hear. %
the tree. How much to BE- desired is ths us,
and death of the first spruce. battling to tho very
last!
a beech Seeding which takes root close 20 t,.
bank Of stream has a good chanc. OF surviving.
since on the water side there will be no com.
petltors. and moisture and air will never ta. But
look at some ancient beeches growing thus who's.
smooth. whitened boe incloses century OF growth
rings To Offset its advantages HttIe by little ths
stream has undermined its nazs Of roots and ,h,
force OF annual freshets has turned them all IN a
downstream direction. II IS inverted reminder
OF the wind-moulded spruce. Although tho stout
beech props itself by great roots thrown landward
yet sooner or later the rippIes will filter In be-
yond the centre OF gravity. and the mighty tre.
Will topple and mingle with rs shadow-doubla
which sor so many years the stream has reflected
Thus had that while without moisture no
tree could exist. yet the element often brings
death In the mysterious depths OF our Southern
swamDs We hnd the strangely picturesque cy-
presses, which defy the waters about them. One
cannot say where trunk ends and root begins, bu.
Up from the stagnant slime rise great archsd but
tresses so that the tree seems TO be supported on
giant six eight legged stools between thu
arches OF which the water flows and nads no
chance to use It's power. Here In these lonely soil
tudes' heron haunted. snake infested. tss hanging
moss and orchids search out every dead limb and
cover Il with an unnatural greennsss Here great
Echens grow. and myriad tropical insects bore and
tunnel their way from bark 20 heart OF the trss
and back again Here. IN tbs oIackness o. nfght
when the afr Is heavy with hot. swarnpy odor, and
only the occasional cry OF heron Is heard a
rendins grinding crash breaks suddenly upon
the stiffness, distant boom and splash awaken
Ing every living creature Then silence again
closes down. and we know that a cypress. linking
perhaps trio OF centuries las yielded up It's lie
Leaving the hundred other mysteries which II.
trees OF the tropics might Unfold. let Us consider
for moment the danger which the tall. success
ful tree invites. the penalty which IL pays for
having surpassed all It's brethren II alone at
tracts the lightning. and With binding fash a
rsndin5 CO heart wood. the tree bssore perfect IN
trunk. limbs and foliage. IS now only heap ot
charred splinters
Many a great willow overhanging tho banks OF
wide river could tell interesting tales OF the scars
on rs trunk That lower wound was a deep xa,h
cut by some Indian. perhaps. to direct war party
making rs way through the untroddea Wilderness.
that bare, unsightly patch was burned out by ,he
signal FIRE cf one Of our rorerather pioneers And
so on and on ths story would unfold until the top
most freshly sawed of limb had for It's purpose
only the desire OF the present owner for clearer
view OF th- water beyond
Let Us then give more thought to the trees abou.
-. straishteD the bent saplng. remove the para
sitic hchen and give 20 the tree tbs best chance
fer a long and useful life