Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-22
THE LETCHW0RTH ARB0RETUM.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

Il@=====
One Of the most interesting of all the
experiments I'm the direction or forest
conservation La that being Initiated oy
the American Scenic and Historic Pres
ervation Society at Letchworth ParA'
New York. All Of the valuable timber
trees of the world which Will grow In
climate corresponding to that at Letch-
worth PARK are being planted In this
great arboretum, and definite efforts will
be made to learn the full possibilities of
these woods when grown under forest
conditions In the United States. Planted
singly and in groups will be every kind
Of tree that has any chance OF growing
In such & climate. Visitors will thus be
afforded an opportunity to study the
value Of trees for ornamental planting
and for landscape purposes.
To each species Of tree Is assigned an
irregular block of ground of an acre or
more in area, and the trees will be plant
ed and the grounds laid off with due re-
gard for landscape and color effects.
Planting will be so close as to simulate
forest conditions, and each tree will be
given a good start and then told to shift
for itself In this way trees untitled to
mated. but when all the plats Of ground
have been planted with trees that will
grow. Letchworth Park will contain more
kinds Of commercially valuable trees
than any other forest In the world.
* x
Through this forest will run winding
them he will
Will Be Of Value see growing
to Planters Of Trees. mercial1v val
liable trees of the United States and Can
ada. those of Europe and those from
many OF the little known regions of the
earth. 1t is intended to make this ar
boretum Of value not only to the profess
sional forester, but to every American
citizen who is about to undertake tree
planting and who wishes to get the bene-
fit of the lessons at Letchworth Park.
The history Of Letchworth Park be-
gins in 1850. when William Pryor Letch-
worth a citizen of Buffalo. sought a play
ground where he could free himself from
the cares Of business. He bought a
place at the Upper Falls OF the Genesee
river, enar Portage, which he named Glen
Iris Most of the land had been denud-
ed by the woodman's AK and the sawmi!l,
but L.etchworth set to work to restore II
to it's pristine beauty He employed the
science Of the forester and the art OF the
landscape gardener and soon had one of
the show places Of New York state-a
place where nature was dressed In It's
best by art.
time, lying on both sides Of the Genesee
river until he owned about a thousand
acres, embracing the three famous
Portage Falls and the wonderful gorge
cut by the river. The voice OF pai.heya VA
called upon him to establish q museum
for the relics of the Indians who once
peopled that region Ana In carrying
ont that idea he secured the old council
house in which they long held their coun-
ellis; he brought back for reverent sepul-
ture the remains Of Mary Jemison. the
splendid young white woman who con-
secrated her life to the welfare of the
Indian.
In 1906 Dr. Letchworth consulted with
many friends, and a year later decided to
pres nt his
preSnnfs Estate estate to the
people of the
to New York State. state of New
York, retaining a life tenancy, which was
terminated by his death in December, 1910.
A condition of the gift was that it was
American Scenic and Historic Preserva-
ton Society, which organization is pre-
pairing to make the gift Of the greatest
possible ultimate value to the people of
the nation.
1t is intended that the value of the ar
boretum will not merely consist in
demonstration Of the results that may De
expected to follow ferest plantation of
various kinds of trees. but that our exact
I'm cd Of enhanced.
Skilled observations and systematic rec
ords will be kept; the measure OF each
growing tree will be taken at stated
times; their liability to disease will be
bearing, their behavior in pure stands and
when growing with other kinds of trees,
their influence upon the forest floor
Not only will the Information thus
made available be placed at the disposal
of those who can visit Letchworth Park.
but carefully prepared, non-technical cir
culars, giving the results Of all such
studies. will be sent to those interested in
forestry.
The work of planting the arboretum is
in charge of Overton w. Price. who. for
ten years was Clifford Pinchot's right
hand men while he was at the head Of the
forest service of the United States. He
has had much experience with practical
forestry. having graduated from the For
est School at Munich. Bavaria, and hav-
ing had three years work abroad under
the late Sir Dietrich Brands. former in
spector general Of the forests of India
The director of the arboretum is Charles
NJ. Dow. prominent publisher of James
town, n. Y.
\ X
Nearly hundred thousand trees have
been planted since the arboretum had its
beginning as
Government AIDS such. The di-
has
in Novel Enterprise. t .eeee , mas en-