The sun., 1918-10-24
THE NEED OF TREES.
The War Has Shown Us How Our
Forest Wealth Dwlndles.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Not
withstanding the exigent state Of affairs
in which the carrying on OF righteous
war Is the transcendent aim, our
thoughts might well be shared at this
season by consideration Of the practical
value OF tree planting, a matter Of
common interest. as Of other necessaries
in fact, upon which health. comfort and
happiness depend. such as food for man
and beast. water supply. fuel in the form
Of coal. wood and oil. the means OF shell
ter. &c. Not far removed in It's dread
ful Significance from the appalling de-
struction of human life abroad is the
devastation, and in many instances the
complete destruction. OF the woods and
forests, the parks and gardens Of France,
Belgium and other fields OF the SAN
culinary conflict in progress.
In our own country we can no longer
delude ourselves with the boastful claim
OF an exhaustless timber supply. The
shifting scenes OF the lumber interests.
the story OF which is SO startling as EVIL
dencing the magnitude Of such inroads
upon this once Incompatible resource
as to force upon us the widespread need
vice of wisest conservation. Great areas
Of our middle Western States once in
vested with dense forests of valuable
timber are now so bare as scarcely to
yield 4 local supply OF firewood. A fur
Their illuminating fact as illustrating the
changes in the manner and localities Of
timber productions may be cited In the
item of the shingle. OF which the recent
annual output has Appropriated four
teen or more billions. and Of this amount
probably more than two-thirds came
from the distant State Of Washington,
while Louisiana. where shingles are also
made, supplies not more than per cent.
OF the whole. Formerly in the middle
and eastern sections OF the country To-
Gust and walnut were common products
OF nature and now SO scarce that the
Government is employing agents 10 scour
the States hereabout for material from
these trees, the one for pins in ship
construction, the other for the wood
work OF firearms. Quite recently two
carloads Of locust pins were cut and
shipped TO California by express cars at
no inconsiderable cost. SO urgent was
the need for this distant supply.
Choice varieties Of our native dccidu-
Gus and evergreen trees have suffered
greatly from depletion due to the almost
unchecked ravages of pestifercus insects
and destructive fungi. the noted scarcity
Of bird life in many sections plainly
adding to the completely Of the prob
lem of protecting the trees. Trees such
as the chestnut, the maple, hickory. oak,
pine. hemlock. &c, are beautifully char
acteristic of the wonderful resources OF
our declduous and evergreen varieties,
and these should be planted freely wher-
ever opportunity offers. The American
chestnut should not be permitted to dis
appear from the list.
I had intended to say more about
street tree planting in the several Dor
oughs OF our city. where In many Sec
lions trees may be used with great adj
vantage to property and for the adorn-
ment OF n neighborhood. For a COM
small expenditure a good tree
is a paying investment. The period of
defoliation in the deciduous tree Is at
hand, and indicates the season OF safety
in transplanting. and this work can now
shortly be undertaken. lasting till early
frost in December. Full information
without charge may be had on the sub
tect as to conditions under which tree
planting may be done in the city by APP
plying by letter or in person to the Park
Commission of Ave of the boroughs, and
all Interested In this inviting enterprise
should take occasion to plant a tree as
n civic duty. JOHN Y. CULVER.
Nryy Yong October 90