Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-07-12
HORTICULTURAL PICNIC
Continued from page p.

thinking man of longer and more
beautiful life beyond. And their
story is not deceiving. If we will
only be patient while the cold winds
CT midwinter shake the branches OF
the naked tree, and the snow and
the sleet sparkle there until the
warm sun melts it away, we shall not
be betrayed. When springtime re-
turns, the old tree has no longer the
bushes of autumn, nor the naked
ness of winter, but instead, the green
leaf is throbbing with life, the
branches seem to be shaking with
JOY and the tree is tapering heaven
ward with pride.
Yet aside from it's intrinsic beauty
the tree has an incomprhensible
value. Consider all the institutions
of learning, all the temples of wor-
ship and all the various lines of in
dustry and commerce that are made
possible only through the liberal con-
tributions of the tree. We say that
our country is covered with a net
work of railroads, but do we stop
to think that no railroad could be
built without the wooden ties. The
wires of the telephone and telegraph
are suspended from wooden poles.
Our coy firesides and sacred homes
have their physical origin in the
tree. Up to a table of golden oak,
and on a wooden chair we are snugly
seated when we eat our daily meals,
and | could go on and show the
strength, the power and the value
of the tree, but you know that as
we'll as l.
Statistics show that the people of
this country consume between three
and four times more wood than the
forests of the United States grow in
times as many trees will have to be
planted as heretofore or the result
will be a timber famine. During
Roosevelt's administration as Presi-
dent a Conservation Congress met
and on investigation it was found
that the forest products of the U. S.
were consumed too lavishly, and
steps were at once taken to prevent
waste in use and to increase the
growth rate of the forests. The for
est reserves owned by the U. S.
amount to about IA of the entire
forests of our country. Now the
various states and the nation as a
whole are using every effort to guard
the forests of the country against
useless destruction by man and fire.
Even fire brigades have been station
ed at various places to fight the
merciless flames.
1t requires we'll nigh 100 years
80, fho Aft a;, re
full growth. 1t is quite likely that
this waiting does not command it
self to the American farmer who is
accus toned to grow ears on his corn
in summer and eyes on his potato
in a season. But he should not be
selfish. Can he not SOW and let
PROSPERITY reap?
OF course it is not the object and
scope of this society to be much con-
cerned with the tree abroad, only to
the extent of seeing the necessity of
extending a helping hand right here
at home. Besides improving the
methods of gardening and fruit rails
ing, and exchanging ideas along
these various lines, it is the prime
object of the members of this society
to unite their efforts in conserving
and developing the natural resources
of the state of Iowa, and especially
with reference to Winneshiek coun-
ty. And while | will say that the
landscapes and homes in and about
DEBORAH, with her brand" new park,
are as beautiful as anywhere on
Gods green earth, yet let us not lay
down and be content with what we
have. Trees are cheap; they require
little or no care. Therefore, let us
plant more of the beautiful, valuable
trees. Let the children plant and
rear them in your own dooryard.
and some day when they go out to
battle for themselves in this world,
they will at opportune times wander
back to see the trees they planted in
their childhood when they knew no
troubles and life knew no cares. ="
Plant apple and plum trees and
raise that delicious fruit at home.
Plant maple. pine and birch trees.
Plant them to shade the little chill
dren. Plant them to make your
home inviting and beautiful. Plant
them to keep your boys and girls at
home. Plant trees in honor of the
living; plant them in memory of the
dead.