Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-04
AMERICAN SEEDLINGS
CROW into BIG TREES
Are Beginning to Heal War
Scared Areas in Europe
and France.
ARTHUR n. PACK MAKES REPORT
Trees Arc Growing Monuments TO
Cordial Relations Between Allies In
the Great War, md Cover an Area
OF 2J,OOO Acres.
IBy Associated prcsxl

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-American
seedlings, fast growing into mighty
trees. already arc beginning to heal
the war-scarred areas of Europe. Not
only are they being nurtured in
France and Belgium, but III Great
Britain also and in ireland.
The French ministry has ordered
that the seedlings shall he located in
places readily accessible to main trav-
oled roads, and. II possible. near we'll
known sites. with the view that such
future forests shall remain rs q
monument to the partnership of
France and America in the great
war The same sentiment also pre-
walls in Great Britain. which actually
lost more forest cover than any other
country by the sudden demands OF
war for materials. In Belgium. in the
once beautiful Ardennes, where tho
German axe left nothing standing,
the beautiful American Douglass fir is
lifting its head.
Pack Makes Report.
Arthur Newton Pack, OF Prince ton,
y. j., has just made u report to the
American Forestry Association. which
supplied the seedlings. after Il three
months inspection OF the paintings.
He reports the trees everywhere arc
regarded as growing monuments to
cordial relations between tho allies
in the great war. Packs report shows
that the seedlings have been planted
along the Chemin des Danes, around
Lille, Talenciennes and Hirson at the
doors Of reviving industry: in the
forest OF Saint Goba!n and around
the ruins Of the famous Coucy-le-
Chateau: in the Normal Forest, where
in q 25.oe0-acrc forest OF pine and
beech the German axe left nothing
hut the smallest saplings: in the Ar
dennes Mountains bordering the old
Duchy OF Luxembourg: in County
Tyrone. Ireland. where the best nur-
scry showing of any planted by the
British Forestry Commission has been
made, and along the Caledonian Canal
in Scotland. known to all the Amcri-
can navy because IL was there the
American submarine chascrs were
modified.
Seed I'm Great Demand.
The magnitude OF the work ahead Is
shown in the report which brings out
that Great Britain's program calls for
1900 pounds of seed a year while
Krance needs an equal amount. and
becaA. of the summer drought Bel
yium needs almost as much.
One OF the first areas where the
government is along the Chemin des
Danes. where the glory OF the
American doughboy is forever en-
shrincd. So awful was the artillery
lire that hardly charrcd stump re-
mains of the once thicl; forest along
the slopes. But now row on row,
like the poppies OF FLANDERS. tho
seedlings carpet the slopes once
gouged and torn by the battle wheel.
Americas trees. too, will be found
taking the place OF their comrades
who fell In the forest OF Saint Co
balm and around the ruins of the ia
nous Coucy lie Chateau. dynamited
by the retreating Germans.
ITO the north the German army cut
every stick of available timber for
it's own use" says the report. IN
beautifui pine and beech forest. OF
which nothing remains today except
the stumpS. SO vast an undertaking
is involved in replantinE everywhere
at once that here the French have
adopted a somewhat different syS-
tem-clearinE and spading up only Il
little circle here and there wherein
our seed has been sown directly with
out the intermediate nursery state.
The loss may be heavier. but the
labor OF reforestation should be
lightcned.
Experiment Benefits America.
This experiment With our seeds is
OF unusual ..tr1tefest TO US in America,
where planting labor costs are SO
high and IT may be that an expert
,nent made with American Douglas
fir In France Will prove TO have real
value in forestry in America. The
whole northern district, Lille. Valen-
c!ennes and H.rson. Is par, Of the
great coal mining and manufacturing
center of France. which the Germa n
army SO thoroughly demolished and
because of their location at the door
OF reviving industry the woodlands
here, splashed with patches IL Ameri-
can trees, will hold some of the high
est commercial values OF any forests
in the world. NO better proof of the
Importance Of reforesttng our own
Eastern areas need be sought
In tiny woodland in the Normal
forest. somehow neglected by the
German army, is sign erected py
tho New York Bird Society and
scores OF bird houses and feeding
stations testify TO the manner in
which these Americans are striving
10 SOW seeds OF international good
viii.
Both France and Belgium are
greatly pleased with our American
Douglas ar. which, with US. Is found
IN the greatest abundance on the
Northern Pacific Coast" tho rcpor,
continues. M. Crthay. who has 70,
some years been the very active head
of forestry IN Belgium. is a grea,
believer in this tree. which will r.
far TO help meet The serious prob.
lens of afforestat!on.
The Belgium Ministry OF Waters
and Forests once ecasicd Of seyera
nne small plantations OF Douglas fl,
in the Ardennes Mountains bordering
on the old Duchy OF Luxembourg
where most OF the Belgian forest.
we're formerly located. and this i:
the area which viii he replanted viii
patches OF American Douglas fr
mixed with European pine anc
spruce.
The policy or in,crminsling o
kinds and planting iu small group,
common TO both ,~-ancc and Holeiu,,
rs intended as AL assurance agains
serious loss from Insect or othe
pests which might lac PARTICULAR,
likely TO attack Z foreign species
Also il must he recognized that eve,
IL good average crop % seeding.
from the 26.ooG.C00 seeds prcsonte.
by the association 10 eaci, Of on
former allies were 10 he planted /.
a single block. the resulting tores
would not be likely 10 cover In al
more than 5000 or 5000 acres, Will