The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-09-09

THE PEOPLES, FORUM


VV 49, - = eEs
If Valley City has any one natural
asset of paramount value, it surely
consists of the fine shade trees in the
park and all along the banks Of the
river, and it should be the definite aim
of every citizen to preserve in every
possible way these beautiful natural
trees. To them, in large measure,
is due Valley City's reputation of be-
ing the Garden Spot of North Dako-
ta." To be sure; much has been add
ed to the beauty of the city by the
articidcial growths, the decorative
clumps of shrubbery, the planted
trees, the flower beds and all other ef-
forts of careful planters, but the chief
charm of the city lies in the natural
ness of it's wooded beauty, and to
convene this for the coming years is
civic duty on the part of everyone
who cares at all for his community.
To those persons who have given
the matter careful thought, it is evil
dent that this great natural asset is
at the present time in great danger of
extinction or at least of deterioration.
For two years now the canker worms
have been very numerous during the
summer, this past summer being much
the worst of the two, and in all pro-
liability, if the pest is not effectively
dealt with now, third season will
result in the death of large numbers
Of our fine trees. During this past
summer large numbers of trees were
entirely defoliated, and the fact that
at present beautiful foliage greets the
eye in every direction is no doubt
largely attributable to the remarkably
cool, wet summer we have had. 1t is
extremely doubtful if nature could
again reclothe herself in such way
if the worms were to reappear next
summer, as they undoubtedly will af-
ter the experience of the past two
years.
Some Is years ago Fargo suffered
from similar scourge and the result
was that hundreds of her beautiful
trees were entirely killed. In fact,
residents of Valley City had similar
experiences at that time, though to a
lesser degree.
Much credit is due to the activity
evidenced by our city during the past
summer in the large amount of spray
ing which was done. No doubt it did
a great deal of good, but it is an ex-
pensive way of treating such calam-
ity, and unless handled by highly ex-
perienced persons is liable to pro-
duce great damage to the trees them
selves. At best, it is cure rather
than preventive and is not effectual
until the disagreeable pests have ap-
peared in large numbers. The follow
ing authorities agree as the value of
preventative methods: Professor R.
H. Petit, in his Insects Injurious to
Fruits in Michigan" Professor John
B. Smith, in Ibis Economic Entomo-
logy;" Professor William Saunders, in
his insects Injurious to Fruits"
the Massachusetts state board of agri-
culture, in "The Gypsy Moth Danger
and Protection From It," and Profess
sor c. B. Waldron, horticulturist,
North Dakota state agricultural col
lege. Professor Waldron highly re-
commends tree tanglefoot, manu-
featured by the o. & w. Thum Com
pany, Grand Rapids, Mich. This is a
coating which is applied in bands to
the trunks of the trees remaining
sticky for months, unimpaired by
weather conditions, and which serves
as an effective protection against the
various climbing and creeping insests
which ascend the trunks of the trees
for the purpose of depositing the eggs