The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-09-26


Trees are fixed. almost infexible,
In their habits. For centuries, in
deed, as long ss we have record. each
species has kept In its beaten ways,
insisting on the same average OF tenn
perature and refusing to grow where
this could not be found. seeking and
occupying certain kinds OF soil and
demanding certain amounts OF mois-
ture, and avoiding situations where
these we're wanting.
The latest authorities go so far as
to declare that trees cannot be accli-
matized; that is, that even the in
genuity and perseverance, OF man are
unable to induce trees to change their
habits far enough to adopt country
not closely like their native habitat.
For time the forester may use vari-
Gus devices to surround a tree with
artificial conditions by which, so 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ester's care is withdrawn in such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 fastidlousness IN the habits
OF trees has its good and its bad sides.
II absolutely limits the forester's
choice Of trees to grow in given re-
gion. 70 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 is
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 at
home this tree grows in such cli-
mate. In other words trees, especial
ly of course those which are particu-
larly fastidious, are very satisfactory
substitutes for Thermometers and
barometers so far as the average tenn
perature and moisture conditions dur
ing the vegetative season are con-
cerned.
There is a close relation between
a trees demands upon temperature
and its demands upon soil. Given the
proper temperature, it will grow
where the soil is unfriendly; and
given the most congenial soil, 1t will
grow where the temperature is not
ideal. The colder and wetter the
soil, the better will it grow with a
relatively high temperature; the drier
and warmer the soil, the better will
it grow with relatively low tempera-
ture. 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
because northern slopes are cooler
and moister than southern ones, and
this difference may suffice to Offset
slight disadvantage in the general
temperature of the region.
There is a wide variation amon-
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 oil
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 conditions may
be found outside of the geographic
distribution at higher or lower alti-
tudes. A Southern species whose
home is in the mountains may possess
a second home in the Northern lati-
tudes of a level country, and North
ern lowland species may thrive also
on mountains in the South.
Frequently trees are distributed
over a country not continuously but
in isolated groups, like black hem
lock, which occurs in the Sierras, In
the Cascades and at sea level in
Alaska, but not in the lower country
between. This is simply because the
required temperature, though prev.
alent in the northern part of a region
is found only in the higher attitudes
as one goes further and further to the
south.
The forester. following these broad
FIST principles of sylyiculture, may
work in harmony with nature and sc
achieve in every locality the best re-
suits with the lowest percentage Of
failure.-Forest Service, United
States Department of Agriculture.