Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-06-08

OF THE
WALNUT

IDOuB0J lot lOTelSu SHlDmeul. lue
domestic destruction had almost ex-
Terminated the supply, and what
little is left, It seems, is to go aboard
to be used as a substitute for mahog-
any in veneers. This sounds like a
Ideath-knell and soon no. doubt we
are to see the last of the walnut
trees. A sigh will go up from the
old settler as he recalls the early
! American forests where the walnut
reigned as a prime favorite. The
once magnificent groves have dlsap-
peared almost entirely. Here and
there a few stragglers remain to re-
mind us of the lordly splendor that
characterized their prime. There
were other fine trees, many of them,
which combined to make that great
natural wonder, the primeval Ameri-
can forest. All Of these had their
ipecuiar merits, were valued for
some especial virtue, and were
known and loved by every true child
of nature. The oak, the elm, the
poplar, the beech, and scores OF
others had their special admirers.
But the walnut was looked upon with
peculiar regard. Not only was Il ia
nous for its durability, color and
strength. but around II clustered
many of the tender recollections of
childhood IL grew always In the
richest soil. Around II the blue
grass was most lush and put on its
deepest green. There are oxlips and
nodding violets reached their finest
form. Hardly could be found the
wild brier, the sweet musk roses and
the eglantine.
Not only was the walnut prince
among woods, but II was a nut bear
er. furnisher of food. The gath
ering of the nuts afforded one OF the
chief delights of childhood There
the children gathered in the golden
days of jolly autumn to make the
woods resonant with their laughter.
Under the spreading limbs of the
walnut, on the velvety greensward
many love vow was pllghted,
many romance begun that fingered
through all the years of after life.
The walnut. too. was the favorite
home of the squirrels. There of all
places he loved to linger, lighting
up the limbs with his sprlghtly
sprlnging and lending ineffable grace
by his lnimitable poses. How sweet
the green nuts smelled as the chill
dren rolled them in their hand and
how delicious the matured kernel
when cracked out by the winter fire.
side, The hickory tree deserves no
tice, the beech and the chestnut tree
/ lent pleasure to the seekers after
nuts. and the oaks with their acorns
attracted the wild pigeons in count
less millions, but above and beyond
them all in solid worth and endur-
ing qualities must be placed the
sturdy walnut
II Is therefore with a pang that
we record the possible determination
of these noble trees. Greed knows
no mercy, commercialism sets no
bounds TO it's grasping cupidity, and
the beloved walnut is manifestly on
the way to extinction. Cannot some
thing be done to save 1t, TO replace
the elders by younger growth that
in time may restore the waste? Sys-
Itematic EFFORT to cultivate and pro-
teet the walnut threes ought TO meet
with the hearty cooperation OF every
boy and girl that has been in the
woods in the fall. Let the school
children be appealed 10 and let them
he set to work all over the country
20 see that the walnut shall not dis
appear. 1t will prove educational as
we'll as preservative. for what a les
son for the child is the simple plant
ing OF a tree! II Is FIRST a lesson in
unselishness, in kindness and In
love. because 1t teaches thoughtful
ness for others. II is a lesson IA
good citizenship, because 1t looks
forward TO the needs OF the future.
Il is lesson in economies, a lesson
In the realm OF wonderful Mother
Nature. a lesson in art. lesson In
details-in all these things and
Others, because the act is making
the world more beautiful. more COM
Portable. more useful. more delight
ful and therefore a better world to
live in.