Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-30
HABITS or TREES.
Authorities Declare That Trees Cannot
30 AccIimatized.

| -
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 29.-Trees are
fixed. almost infiexible. In their habits
For centuries, indeed as long as We have
record, each species has kept in It's beaten
ways; insisting on the sane average TEN
could not be found: seeking and occupy
ing certain kinds OF soil and demanding
certain amounts OF moisture and avoid
ing situations where these were wanting.
The latest authorities go 80 far as to
declare that trees can not be acciiiDa-
tiZe3: that Is. that even the ingenuity
and perseverance Of man are unable to
Irauce trees to change their habits far
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 ce1uded
into feeling at home. But soon az
the forester's care Is withdrawn in such
| case*. the tree Is seized with homesick-
ness and Gfes OF 1t.
This fastidiousness In the habits of
trees has it's good and it's bad sides. 1t
absolutely limits the forester's choice Of
| to force tree growth in unconsenial con-
ditions is entirely fruitless. But, on the
other hand, there Is practical certainty
Of results. II beech OF 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 henis-
piera at least the same average Is found.
| the forester may plant beech or spruce,
whether or not they be not already there,
with confidence that they will flourish.
| The same law works both ways. IL
| the forester finds beech or spruce or an ;
| other tree growing in a region of Which
| the climatic conditions are not recorded,
he knows within very narrow limits what
| the climate is, simply because hc knows
| that at home this tree grows in such q
| climate. In other words. trees espe-
cially cf course those which are parttcli-
larry fastiiious, are very satisfactory sub
| ar a M "a = lr'e
so far as the average temperature and
| moisture conditions during the vcgeta-
| tive season are concerned.
| There il q close relation between q
! trees demands upon temperance and
its demands upon soil. Given the proper
temperature. 1t will grow where the soil
is unfriendly and given the most con-
genial soil, il will grow where the ten.-
| perature is not ideal. The colder and
| Wetter the soil. tie better will it grow
with relatively high temperature; the
will it grow with relatively low tenn
r"rat"re. Thus. on n northern slope the
| forester will often find it safe to plant
trees which would not thrive on tie
| southern slope Of the same mount ain, be.
! cause northern slopes are cooler and
moister than southern ones. and this diff
| ference NAV suffice to Offset a slight dis
advantage in the general temperature OF
l tho region.
There is wide variation among trees
| as to the range of temperature which
| tfPV eTiuUTt. oCIie. Sicii DIS Tie DtuSi
| 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 il should not be
| inferred that only geographic lires ca,
| be draw, for the distribution of any
| species. The, right temperature condi-
! TONS NAV he found outside of the. geo.
| grarhic distribution at higher or lowe,
| attitudes. "A southern species whose
home Is in The mountains may possess
1 a second home in the northern latitude
Of a level country. and northern low
land species may thrive. also on noun
tainS in the south.
Frequently trees are distributed ove'
n country not continuously but in iso
lated groups. like black hernlock. which
| occurs in the Sierras. in the Cascades
| and at sea level I'm Alaska but not In tht
| lower country between. This Is simply
1 because the required temperature, though
| prevalent in the northern part of re
l gion. is found only the higher altitude:
as one goes farther and farther to TIL.
/ south.
| The forester. following these broad frs
| principles of silvicultlre. may work u
| harmony with nature and 50 achieve II
1 every locality the best results With stlit
lowest percentage Of failure.