Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-20

PLANT tree!''
This is the really-up-to-date way of
celebrating an imp1rtanC occasion. II the
cause for rejoicing is national, get together
the citizens of the community and plant
Young oak or dig up full grown specimen
from an inconspicuOus place and set 1t down
in the city square or the front yard OF the
town hall. If you are happy because the
hero of the family is home from the front,
or because the open sugar bowl has return
ed, the appropriate way to signify JOY and
remember the day is to plant a Seeding ap-
ple tree in the back yard or a young fir on
the lawn.
The American Forestry association, which
stands sponsor for the idea of trees as
memorials, has decided to launch the project
at Christmas with community Christmas
trees. Community trees at Chris mas time
have in the past few years become national
institution. Heretofore, these trees have,
with few exceptions, been cut from the
forest for a weeks display in a city park or
square, and then have been cast aside or
used as firewOod, and supplanted the next
year by a new tree.
Now, the American Forestry association Is
anxious that the trees chosen shall be dug
up, roots and ALL instead of cut, and trans
planted to a place suitable for the Christ
mas celebration and where at the same time
the tree may remain permanently. 1t will
then be at hand for the next years celebra-
ton.
In another, broader way the memorial
tree is to be instituted. mo more appro-
pirate memorial than the living, growing
tree can be erected in honor of the Ameri-
can heroes who gave their lives for free
dom's cause" says the forestry association,
and this statement has been echoed by
scores of governors and other state officials
throughout the country.
There will be statues of bronze and stone,
of course-hundreds of them. But the day
of the statue is passin :, and in its place is
coming the memorial that serv ) as well as
beauties. Already it has been suggested
that Libraries and halls replace carven fig
ures. Whatever tribute is erected, the
proper setting of trees is urged by the for
eStry association.
The cold finality of stone is suggestive of
achievements of the past. Some of the
men who will be honOred by theif home COM
munities or by the nation are living, and it
is felt by many that their memory and the
memory of those who gave their lives for
the liberty of others can best be revered by
growing trees, symbolic of their victory,
which is for the future.
AS Governor Capper, of Kansas, put it;
More than ordinary mortals these men are
still with us, and 1t is appropriate to indi-
cate this by dedicating trees to their mem
DRY. For trees will radiate more fully the
spirit of the new life e the world they
protection their death has brought us, and
point toward a fuller growth of the ideals
for which they made their supreme sacri-
flee"
In some cities trees are to be the only
war memorials Avenues and bOulevards
will be named in honor of national or local
heroes, and along the sides will be rows of
victory elms or oaks. Parks, too, will be
renamed for present day patriots, and other
parks will be laid out and planted with trees
bearing the names of those the town wishes
to honor.
Louisiana is planning to plant 44O miles
of trees as a tribute to it's fighters. These
will be placed at forty-foot intervals along
the Jefferson highway. which extends from
north to south throughout the state, con-
Meeting with the great main highway which
runs north to the Canadian line. One hun
dred, sixteen thousand trees will be used.
mostly Victory oaks, altho~ch in parts OF
the state other varieties moro suitable to
prevailing conditio IS wiz be planted.
The vital part played by trees during the
war makes them especially appropriate as
war memorials. Aircraft, barracks and
ships drew heavily on our lumber supply,
as we'll as those of other nations at war.
wrecked forests of France often held back
the foe when munitions alone would have
failed Our forests are depleted but the
forests of France have borne the real brunt
of the burden in helping to supply enormous
quantities of wood needed, and at the same
time serving as a battle ground. At least
twenty years will be required to restore the
French forests to anything like their pre-
war condit on. Meanwhile, the loss in
France will be keenly felt.
This wholesale destruction of forests
both in this country and abroad emphasizes
the need for planting trees in large numbers
Mr.. Frank Rane, state forester of Massa-
chusetts, urges that memorial forests be
planted in honor of our soldier dead, and