The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-12-28
CHRIS MAS
TREE:
CUSTOM
UPHELD

III llLLU
Washington Dec 2S-Tha countrya
forest afeln aavo bccn called upon
70 supply shout -four million Christ.
mas rees, and again many persons
havc astg themselves aud have
| querlcl Che United States forest ser
| vicc. 'is tfe custom menace 30 the
movement for forest preservation"
In tho millions of happy homes over
| he country where the younger gaC-
ee'iun 1as my lc the Christmas tree
hc ceuter Of play since early Fri
das morning there are many mothers
lnl fathers who have given the ques-
| ticn more or less thought From
Sunday schools and other organiza-
ifcna Also, whici hufi an annual Gel
| G1liir1 around gayl trimmed ever
green fcc the benefit OF the little ones
| haa come he question whether II &C.
consistent io urge conservation OF for
cf resources ana then TO cut mil
lwra of ypuug trees every year to
afford little joy in the passing holl
dav easun
"Ycs. il is con iicnt and proper
hat ire custom shouh be maintain
od, has Econ the answer Of United
states r Tostcr Clifford PinchCt in ev-
ary case. "T 'ces are for use and
/ thet' IS no other ne TO which tney
coull be put which woul contribute
Sc much e. the JOY OF man as their
Use by the children ON this one great
tf7y Of the year
| The number Of trees cut for this
use each year is utterly insignificant
WHOM compsred to the consumption
fC. her purposes for which timber
IS demanded. Not more than fou-
million Chr'stmas trees are used each
year ,cne in ever fourth family If
| planted four feet apart tney could be
grcAn on .ess than l,500 aorea This
clearing of IN area equal to good
sized farm each Christmas should not
be a subject OF much worry, when Il
is remembered that for lumber alone
| it Is necessary 10 take timber from
an area OF moro than 100000 acres
every day Of the year.
1T is true that there has teen ser.
i1us damage 20 forest growth in the
cutting of Christmas trees in various
ections OF the country. particularly
Che damage through tae cutting Of
IN the AdirOndacSs ana parts II New
England Gnt IN these very ae-tlons
Young evergroens for use at Christ
mas ls infnitestismal when compared
with the loss OF forest resources
through fires and careless methods of
numbering. The nrope- remedy is not
10 stop using trees hut to adopt wiser
mo hu'G o. use
"lt is generally realized that a Ger.
tain proportion of lani must always
be used for forest growth. Just as for
other crops Christmas trees are one
form OF this crop. Thc-e Is no more
reason for an outcry against using
lani 90 grow Christmas trees tlan to
grow flowers
The forest service upholds the
Christmas tree custom. but recognizes
~ The samc time, tnat the iuds-
cEmin1te cutting Of evergreens to
SUPPLY the holiday trade has produced
a lad eject upon many stands of mer
camille kinds of trees in iifferent sec.
tons Of The country Waste ani de.
siruc,un uNually result Ehcn wool.
landD are net under a proper system
1f forest management Foresters say
that 1t Is not by lcrying ourselves the
wholesome pleasure of having bit
az nature in the home al Cariftmas
that the problem OF conserving the
icrcgi5 viii be solved. but by learn
.us how 40 use tine forc5ta wisely ami
pr1r'rly. The ,avages through for
est fires must be- checked, the many
lreHucs of waste of timber in its
ir1ycl from tao woods to the mill and
thence tO the market must os closed
ari almost numberloss important
p hlaUs icmand attention before the
Carisimas t-cc
Germany Is conceded to have the
highest evel)pel system OF forest
management Of any country get us
per capita usc OF Christmas trees is
greatest. The cutting OF small trees
it- Christmas Is not there considered
IN tle icds. as menace 10 The forest
but, On the contrary, as means OF
Improving the forest by thinning and
as q source Of -cyenne Il rs there
lore constantly encouraged
There 5 little 5oubi but hat the
time wiz come when the Christmas
rec fuslnesa VIII become recogniz.
"a indugtfy In his county. and that
as muca attention VIII be given 10
j. as win bc given 10 ihe growing OF
crops Of timber Tor ether use-.. This
time may not De iar on. for IL IS al.
ready undarsiocl that only through
the Practice OF forestry. which means
both the conservation Of The timber
wi.ch remsius ars carefully planned
syftems of reforestation. VIII Il be pos
sole 70 supply tho country with its
irtg billion feet OF lumber neeleI
each year as well as the few million
little tree used at Chrisfma3 time.