Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-17
Tree Planting Urged
ForSoldiers' Memorials
By Fra derlc ]. Haskin

or the front yard of the town hall. III
you arc happy bee use the hero Of the
family is home from the front, or because
the open sugar bowl has returned, the
appropriate way To signify Joy and re-
member the day is to plant a seeding
apple tree in the back yard or young hr
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 the Community
Christmas trees. Community trees ut
Christmas time have in the past few years
become a national institution. Heretofore
these trees have, with few exceptions,
been cut from the forest for a weeks
display in n city park or square, ana then
have been cast aside or used as ire wood,
| and supplantcd the next year by q new tree
DIG ROOTS AND ALL.
Now, the American Forestry Association
is anxious that the trees chosen shall be
dug ip, roots and all, instead Of cut out,
and transplanted to q place suitable for
the Christmas celebration and where, at
the same time, the tree may remain per
manen,ly. II will then he at hand for
the next years celebration,
In another, broader way the memorial
tree is TO be instituted. No NOR
appropriate memorial than the living
growing tree cnn he erected in honor OF
the American heroes who gave their lives
for freedoms $ 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 dav If the statue Is passing, and in its
- al hot
| as well as beautifies. Already IL has beens
suggested that libraries and halls replace
carven figures Whatever tribute IS
erected, the proper setting Of trees is
urged bv the Forestry Association.
The cold hnaiity OF stone is suggestive
| of achievements Of the past. Some Of
the men who will be honored by their
| home communities or by the nation arc
| 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 rest be revered by growing trees,
symbolic Of their victory which is for the
| future,
GOVERNOR URGES MEMORIALS.
As Governor Capper Of Kansas puts It;
| More than ordinary mortals these men
| are still with tis and it is appropriate TO
| indicate this by dedicating trees 10 their
| memory For trees will radiate more
| fully the spirit OF the new life of the world
| they fought for indicate TO greater de-
| gree the protection their death has brought
trs, and point toward a fuller growth Of
| the ideals for which they made their SUI
| preme sacrifice.
| In some cities trees are 10 be the only war
| memorials Avenues and borlevards viii
be named in honor of national or local
| heroes. and along the sides will be rows Of
/ Victory Eln1s or Oaks. Parks, too, will
| be renamed for present day patriots,
and other parks will belaid o-lt and planted
with trees bearing the names Of those the
town wishes To honor
/ Louisiana is planning to plant 440
/ miles OF trees az tribute to its fighters
/ These will be placed at forty foot in
| tervals along the Jefferson Highway
which extends from north 10 south
| throughout the state. connecting with
the great main highway which runs
| north TO the Canadian line. One hun
| dred sixteen thousand trees viii be
| used, mostly Victory OAKS, although
in parts Of the state other varieties more
| suitable 10 prevailing conditions Will
| be planted
The vital part played BY trees during
the war makes them especially appro-
| racks and ships drew heavily on our
lumber supply, as we'll as those Of other
nations al war The wrecked forests
OF France often held back the foe when
munitions alone would have failed
Our forests are depleted, but the forests
France have born the real brunt
| of the burden in helping to supply the
| enormous quantities Of wood needed,
aud at the same time serving as a battle.
| ground Vt least twenty years will be
required To restore the French forests
| to anything like their pre-war condition.
| Meanwhile, the lose IN France will be
| kecnly felt.
DESTRUCTION SHOWS MED.
This wholesale destruction OF forests
both in this country and abroad en-
phAsizes the need, or planting trees in
large numbers ATr. Frank Rane, State
| Forester OF Massachusetts,, urges that
memorial forests be planted IN hopor
| ef our soldiers. dead. and that some OF
the returning soldiers be employed al
the work
Memorial trees planted in avenues
| or sIngly are not, OF course, planted with
a view to Increasing the lumber supply
They do however. serve various purposes
beyond their primary function o. tribute
| 4 we'll planned tree setting adds to the
attraetiveness OF an already picturesque
| town and softcns the uglncsS Of dlngy
| one Washington would be famous for
its broad shaded streets even though
it were not he National Capital
MIR Gilbert Pearson, executive head
Of the National Association of Audu on
| Societies secs in the planting Of trees
further protection 10 the bird life of the
| country Because they cat insects and
pests which try to destroy the trees.
birds arc the natural guardians of the
/ forests
Planting of trees, says MIR Pearson.
may mean more to bird life than can
| be estimated. for il will doubtless sur
prise a great many people to know that
trees are life and death matter with
| the birds Many birds will work through
every daylight hour to save trees.
have known people who hunt wood
peckers, the birds that spend most ot
| their time saving trees from the pests
under the d RI
Many trees will he planted IN the
coming months. both formally and
without show of ceremony Arbor DAY
| will not be awaited as the ono day ~
the year when the city dweller can VIII
| proprlety plant tree Apple Seed
Johnnie example OF always burying
the seeds Of the apples he ate has been
long cited as worthy OF emulation. and
now, if all those who have expressed their
| approval lend further ard % the tree