Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-04
SAYS TREES ARE
EASTIDIOUS THINGS
FORESTER DECLARES THEY CAM
NOT BE AccLIMATlzED
interesting Report Shows Habits OF
Plants Are Firmly Fixed by Gem
turtles OF Occupation of Ger
tain Latitudes

Trees cannot be acclimatized, says
recent report of the forestry branch OF the
department of agriculture.
Trees are fixed, almost inhexible' In
their habits. For centuries, indeed as
long as we have record, each species
has kept in it's beaten ways; insisting
on the same average of temperature ana
refusing to grow where this could not be
found; seeking and occupying certain
kinds of soil and demanding certain
amounts of moisture and avoiding sttua-
lions where these were wanting.
The latest authorities go so far as TO
declare that trees cannot be accnma-
tized: that is, that even the ingenuity
and perseverance of man are unable 70
induce trees to chance their habits tar
enough to adopt a country not closely
like their native habitat For time the
forester may use various devices to sur
round a tree with artificial conditions by
which, so to speak, the tree is deluded
into feeling at home. But as soon as
the foresters care is withdrawn in such
cases the tree is seized with homesick-
ness and dies of it.
This fastidiousness in the habits OF
trees has it's good and its bad sides. IL
absolutely limits the forester's choice OF
trees to grow in a given region. To seek
ditions is entirely fruitless. But, on the
other hand, there is practical certainty
of results. If beech or spruce thr1ves
where the average warmth and moisture
of the growing season from year to year
ranges between certain degrees, then
wherever else, in the northern hemis-
phere at least, the same average Is found,
the forester may plant beech or spruce,
whether or not. they be not already there,
hot haty Wi N.
Trees Are FastidiousJ
The same law works both ways. If the
forester finds beech or spruce or any otner
tree growing in a region OF Wnlcn the
climatic conditions are not RECORDED ne
knows within very narrow limits what
the climate is, simply because ne Knows
that at home this tree grows in such a
climate. In other words, trees, especially
of course those which are particularly
| fastidious, are very satisfactory substi-
tutes for thermometers and barometers
| so far as the average temperature ana
| moisture conditions during the vegetative
season are concerned.
| There is a close relation between a
trees demands upon temperature and It's
demands upon soil Given the proper
temperature it will grow where the soil
is unfriendly; and given the most con-
genial soil 1t will grow where the tenn
perature is not ideal. The colder and
Wetter the soil the better will 1t grow
with a relatively high temperature; the
drier and warmer the soil the better
will it grow with a relatively low tenn
perature. Thus, on a northern slope the
| forester will often find it safe to plant
trees which would not thrive on the
southern slope of the same mountain, be-
cause northern slopes are cooler and
moister than southern ones, and this diff
ference may suffice to Offset slight dis
advantage in the general temperature OF
the region.
Should Work with Nature
There Is a wide variation among trees
as to the range of temperature which
they endure. Some, such as the Douglas
fir. yellow pine, eastern spruce or aspen,
grow over wide areas from north to
south. others. such as Mexican white
pine, eucalyptus or redwood, are more
narrowly confined. But 1t should not be
inferred that only geographic lines can
be drawn for the distribution OF any
species. The right temperature condl-
lions may be found outside of the geo
graphic distribution at higher or lower
attitudes A southern species whose
home is in the mountains may possess
a second home in the northern ATTITUDES
of a level country, and a northern low
land species may thrive also on noun
tains in the south.
Frequently trees are distributed over
a country not continuously but in iso-
lated CROPS like black hemlock, which
occurs in the Sierras, in the Cascades,
and at sea level in Alaska, but not in
the lower country between. This is sim
ply because the required temperature,
though prevalent in the northern part of
n region, is found only in the higher
attitudes as one goes farther and farther
to the south.
The forester, following these broad
first principles of silviculture, may work
in harmony with nature and so achieve
in every locality the best results with the
lowest percentage of failure.