River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-01-11
THE EVERGREENS
BY r. 3. BUCKHAM.

To tell something really new about the ever
greens would be difficult task indeed, since
the reader has doubtless been familiar with
their principal traits and characteristics since
boyhood and knows them all, root and branch.
But a few facts relative to them may never
theless prove convenient for reference, and In
teresting and suggestive.
First of all, then, they are distinctly desira.
Bile as shade and ornamental trees, Though
many fail to recognize their value as such. In
time however, they will surely come to receive
the place as such which is due them.
No tree can add more to the landscape than
one of these and especially in the winter sea
son, when so many others are leafess and for
lorn The wonder is that we do not see more
of the evergreens in the streets OF cities, and
about fine country places.
Again they are Of prime value timber
The price of soft wood lumber is steadily in
creasing, yearly. When this country was first
discovered and grants of land were given by
the king. in most cases great care was taken
to reserve the pine thereon to the crown. It's
value was recognized then. snail we fall TO ap
preciate it, today?
The evergreens are LII of them hardy ana
easily grown, and adaptable to almost any eli
mate a..d condition of soil and surroundings.
You will find the spruce growing on the ex-
posed and chilly upper slopes Of mountains, and
again equally well along the muddy banks of a
riv~s, or in the depths Of wet and gloomy
swampaand, or out upon the sandy plain. Only
give them fair chance and the evergreens will
look out for themselves. There is no portion of
our nation In which they cannot be grown with
success and to advantage. The present is al
ways pro1itious with Them. They care not
whether times are good or bad, or what politi-
cal faction is in the ascendency. They are
ready to launch out with you on a venture in
the lumber business at any time, and they
make pretty good partners to tie up with, too
The several varieties of xhe evergreens have
their peculiarities, traits are5 habits. b means
of which they be selecsSd to conform to
ones individual circum stances. Thus, the hem
lock and the larch seem to be able to endure
almost any amount of moisture in the soil.
whereas the pine is best constituted To- thrive
in the most barren sands, and to endure long
continued droughts. The spruce is the most
successful of them all in doing without sun
shine, surviving dense shade, and making itself
at home on northern mountain slopes, where
the snow fingers far into the spring. and the
sun makes out to shine but little ume eacn
day.
Almost any condition of soil and situation
can be met by these hardy growers, and they
seldom fail to return good profit to the man
who is willing to loan them the use of his land.
If the large leaved trees retained their foliage
throughout the year 1t is difficult to Imagine
what havoc wind and sleet and snow woulc
not occasion amons them; but the foliage Of
the evergreens is so shaped that though re-
tanned throughout the year, no damage r@sultS
in the fercest gales. What would be the De-
struction of other trees, but makes musin
among the evergreens Long may their Tyres
be attuned throughout the hills and valleys OF
our country!