Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-01-02
Christmas Tree custom Upheld.

II
Christmas Tree custom Upheld.
The country's forests again have been
called upon to supply about four million
Christmas trees, and again many per-
sons have asked themselves and have
quefied the United States Forest Ser
vice, sis the custom q menace to the
movement for the forest preserva-
tion?"
In the millions Of happy homes over
the country where the younger genera
ton has made the Christmas tree the
center of play since early Friday morn
ing, there are many mothers and faith
ers who have given the question more
or less thought. From Sunday schools
and other organizations also, which hold
an annual celebration around gayly
trimmed evergreen for the benefit of
the little ones, has come the question
whether Il is consistent To, urge conser-
walton Of forss. resources and then to
cut millions Of young trees every year to
afford little joy in the passing holiday
season.
eyes, it is consistent and proper that
the custom should be maintained" has
been the answer of United States Fores.
ter Clifford Pinchot In every case.
"Trees are for use, and there Is no other
use to which they could be put which
would contribute SO much to the Joy Of
man as their use by the children on this
one great holiday of the year.
"The number of trees cut for this use
each year 10 utterly Insignificant when
compared to the consumption for other
purposes for which timber 10 demanded.
Not more than four million Christmas
trees are used each year, one In every
fourth family. If planted four feet
apart they COD be grown on less than
1900 acres. This clearing Of an area
equal to a good-sised farm each Christ
mas should not be q subject Of much
worry, when it is remembered that for
lumber alone it is necessary to take tim
ber from an area of more than 100000
acres every day of the year.
at is true that there has been serious
damage to forest growth in the cutting
of Christmas trees in various sections Of
the country, particularly in the Adiron-
dacks and parts of New England, but in
these very sections the damage through
the cutting Of young evergreens for use
at Christmas is in6nitesimsl when coms
pared with the loss of forest resources
through fires and careless methods Of
numbering. The proper remedy is not
to stop using trees but to adopt wiser
methods of use
at is generally realized that certain
proportion Of land must always be used
for forest growth. lust as for other crops.
Christmas trees are one form of this
crop. There is no more reason for an
outcry against using land to grow Christ
mas trees than to grow flowers"
The Forest Service upholds the Christ
mas tree custom, but recognizes at the
same time, that the indiscriminate cut
ting Of evergreens to supply the holiday
trade has produced bad effect upon
many stands Of merchantable kinds OF
trees In different sections of the coun-
try. Waste and destruction usually re-
suit when woodlands are not under a
proper system of forest management.
Foresters say that it is not by denying
ourselves the wholesome pleasure Of
having bit of nature in the home at
Christmas that the problem of conserv.
ing the forests will be solved, but by
learning how to use the forests wisely
and properly. The rsvages through
forest fires must be checked, the many
avenues of waste OF timber in its travel
from the woods to the mill and thence
to the market must be closed, and al
most numberless important problems
demand attention before the Christmas
tree.
Germany Is conceded to have the
highest developed system Of forest man.
agement of any country, yet its per cap
ita use of Christmas trees 10 greatest.
The cutting Of small trees for Christmas
is not there considered in the least as q
menace to the forest, but, on the con.
trary as means Of improving the for
est by thinning and as source of rev.
enue. 1t is therefore constantly encout-
aged.
There 10 little doubt but that the time
will come when the Christmas tree bust.
ness will become q recognized industry
in this country, and that as much stten.
ton will be given to 1t as will ba given
to the growing of crops Of timber fol
other use. This time may not be far Of,
for it is already understood that only
through the practice of forestry, which
means both the conservation Of the tim.
Der which remains and carefully plan.
ned system Of reforestation, will il be
possible to supply the country with ia
forty billion feet OF lumber needed each
year, as we'll as the few million little
trees used at Christmas time.
Shoaid Receive Prompt Attention.
The attention of our Senator and
Representative is called to the following