The new South-news., 1907-10-12

e Refuses to FlouBiah II CnAeeuo
toned 6ou an6 Tempesature.

z Refuses 70 Flourtah n Cnaeeue
toned Sol asd Temperature.
Trees are med. almost in6exible.
IN their habits. For centuries. in
deed, ~ long ~ We have record, each
species has kept IN Its beaten ways.
insisting on the same average Of tenn
psfatufs and refusing to grow where
this could not be found. seeking and
occupying certain kinds OF sell and
demanding certain amounts OF mois-
ture. and avoiding situations where
these were wanting.
Tho latest authorities 90 90 fkr a.
TO declare that trees cannot be accli-
matized; that IL. that even the In
genuity and perseverance, OF man are
unable to induce trees to change their
habits far t.fough to adopt q country
not closely like their native habitat.
For a time the forester may use vari-
GUS devices to surrolno a tree with
artificial concitions by which. 80 to
speak, the tree Is deluded into feel
Ing at home. But as soon As the for
ester's care Is withdrawn In such
cases the tree is seized with home
sickness and dies OF It.
This fastldiousness in the habits
OF trees has Its good and its bad sides
1t absolutely limits the forester q
choice OF trees to grow In q given re-
gion. 20 seek to force tree growth
In uncongenial conditions Is entirely
fruitless. But. on the other hand
there is practical certainty Of results
II beech or spruce thrives where the
average warmth and moisture OF the
growing season from year to year
ranges between certain degrees, then
wherever else. in the Northern Hem.
Isphere at least, the same average Ia
found. the forester may plant beech
or spruce. whether or not they be al.
ready there, with confidence that they
will flourish.
The same Law works both ways
II the forester finds beech or spruce
or any other tree growing in a re-
gion of which the climatic conditions
are not recorded. he knows within
very narrow limits what the climate
Is, simply because he knows that al
home this tree grows In such a eli
mate. In other words trees, especial
ly OF course those which are particu
larly fastidious. are very satisfactor,
substitutes for thermometers ant
barometers so far as the average tenn
perature and moisture conditions dur
Ing the vegetative season are con
cerned.
There ia n close relation between
a trees demands upon temperature
and its demands upon soil. Given tn,
proper temperature. 1t will grow
where the soil is unfriendly; and
given the most congenial soil, 1t will
grow where the temperature Is no
ideal. The colder and wetter thu
soil. the better will 1t grow with {
relatively high temperature: the driel
and warmer the soil, the better viii
It grow with relatively low tempera
ture. Thus, on a northern slope thu
forester will often find It safe to plan
tfees-VMieh -~'eualdd -ssott -ttAAfiivQ I-ea.fhl
southd In slope of the same m)untain
because northern slopes are cooler
and mqister than southern ones. and
this difference may su1lce to offse
a slight disadvantage in the genera
temperature of the region.
There ia wide variation anon:
trees as to the range of Temperature
which they endure. Some. such a
the Douglas fir. yellow pine, Easterl
spruce or aspen, grow over wide area
from north to south; others. such a
Mexican white pine, eucalyptus o
redwood. are more narrowly confined
But 1t should not be inferred tina
only geographic lines can be draw
for the distribution OF any species
The right temperature conditions ma
be found outside OF the geographi
distribution at higher or lower alt
tudes. A Southern species who's
home Is In the mountains may posses
second home In the Northern lac
tudes Of level country. and Nortt
ern lowland species may thrive als
on mountains in the South.
Frequently trees are distribute
over country not continuously b,
in isolated groups, like black hen
/, lock, which occurs In the Sierras,
the Cascades and at sea level
Alaska, but not In the lower county
between. This Is simply because II
, required temperature. though pre-
alent In the northern part Of q regio
, is found only in the higher altitude
as one goes further and further to IL
south.
The forester, following these bros
|, first principles OF syIviculture. M,
, work In harmony with nature and
achieve In every locality the best r
suits with the lowest percentage
' failure.-Forest Service, Unit,
States Department of Agriculture.
The Good PrOvidcr.