Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-12
MOTORISTS URGED
|. TO SAVE lockwood
Advantages to Capital Of
Blossoms Cited by A. IA.
Executive.

serve the Towering dogwood was made
today by Ernest N. Smith, general man
ager Of the American Automobile As
sociation.~
In an eloquent statement describing
the beauties Of this tree and its ad-
vantageS to the Nations Capital. Mr..
Smith declared thousands OF tourists
come to the Capital each year to see
the cherry blossoms--let them see q
countryside covered with dogwood bios
SONS as we'll"
While blaming the motorist for most
of the despoilation Of lockwood which
has taken place In the past, Mr.. Smith.
as head Of the great organization of
American motorists, expressed the
pride" Of the association that car
owners have been learning the lesson
of protecting the beauties Of the road
side"
Vandal Acts Deplored.
There are people who in the Spring
as well as In the Fall are highway
despoilers.' said Mr. Smith. They
pluck boughs and whole bushes with
which to decorate their homes for Q
few days. Vandal hands destroy in q
moment the loveliiless that q thousand
dews and dawns have fashioned. Thus
spoilation robs countless other travellers
of beauty and Inspiration. No shrub
has suffered more at the hands Of van
dals than the lockwood.
Unless drastic steps are taken 70
protect this flower which adornS the
hillSides and valleys the time wilf.come
when It will be no more. The car
owners. who more than any one else
have been responsible for, this ruthless
destruction, should make amends by
joining the campaign for preservation.
THY have more to gain than any other
gro1p from the preservation Of this
herald Of Spring.
natural resources should be an inherent
trait Of every American. This should
extend to the unnecessary killing and
;utting Of all species Of blossoms and
wild flowers which in the Spring make
the hillsides and valleys radiant with
their color and fragrance. More espe-
c1ally should 1t extend to the dogvood,
which Is one Of the most beautiful Of
the flowers along the highway.
improvement Is Noted.
at has been Of great pride to the
American Automobile Association that
car owners throughout the country
have been gradually learning the lesson
Of protecting the beauties Of the road
side. We have appealed to our members
and their influence has all been on the
side OF preservation.
"A few years ago 1t was no uncom-
mon sight to see hundreds of cars
driven into Washington on a late Sun
day afternoon, with wildhowers and
shrubbery piled In every inch Of avail
able space. in many instances to be
thrown aside as soon as the motorist
reaches his home. Today, thanks to q
ceaseless campaign, the number of such
motorists, who ruthlessly destroy these
evergreens, is steadily decreasing.
Moreover. one of the>worst aspects
of the entire situation Is the fact that
those who destroy these natural re-
sources usually do so on the land Of
another, without permission. :.
Flower Protection Urged.
THE people of Washington, possibly
more than those In any other area Of
the United States, should be nature
lovers and pride themselves in the
wealth Of fragrant and colorful bios
SONS found In the District OF Columbia,
as wen as in nearby Virginia and Mary
land.
IAN estimate was once made to the
effect that nearly 10000 dogwood trees
within o radius of 100 miles Of our
National Capital had been destroyed or
permanently injured by the ruthless
attacks made upon them by people who
seize blossoms which could give salts
faction but for . few hours.
THE moment the dogwood in IN now
er, however, the public seems to think
A.. 49, - a hA{1ht ~
its seasons fertility and Is ripe for
plucktng.
"Our country, roads are being rapid
" stripped Of their chief Spring attrac-
ton. Many trees never recover from
these attacks; the flowers witt rapidly
and are thrown away When branches
are torn of Q long strii of barkis usually
pulled away at the same time. The
wound heals slowly, II at all, and II the
healing is long delayed. fungus diseases
often enter the wound. eventually
causing the death Of the tree.
"As the Capital Of the United States
this city Is o mecca for people from
all parts Of the world. Nowhere is
there q better opportunity to prove our
inherent love Of beauty and respect for
natures wonderful gifts. The beauty Of
dogwood blossoms should forever ap-
peal 70 al QCQUtC AS bOulCbIItlk 10 OS
preserved. Thousands come to the Cap
ital each year to see the cherry bios
somS-let them see q countryside GOV.
cred with dogwood blossoms as well.
Back in 1918. when the automobile
was q luxury enjoyed only by q few,
the Journal Of the New York Botanical
Garden said: y,
Early Effect Of Autos.
"'One Of the new enemies Of the
dogwood is the automobile. It Is not
unusual in the vicinity Of New York to
see great branches torn on, with all the
flowers dropping, being borne into the
city by people In automobiles. Such
ruthless and wanton destruction of this
most decorative tree Of our woodlands
and hillsides Is objectionable and should
be punished as . misdemeanor, for 1t Is
undoubtedly true. in most cases, that
they do not own the trees that they de-
stroy, and have taken the branches
from either some public park or private
land
II regret to say it, but the motorist in
the past has been in q large measure
responsible for the rapid destruction OF
the dogwood, as well as other plants and
flowers. In most instances, however. I
think the destruction resulted from ig-
norance and heedlessness rather than
from a spirit of ruthlessness
Aside from the beauty Of the bios
SONS, the value Of dogwood to the in
dustry Of the Nation should warrant its
preservation. For a number Of years
towering or Eastern dogwood has COM
manded higher price than most other
woods native to the United States.
Tree Has Special Uses.
This tree. generally known to the
public because Of its beautiful flowers
is important, has o combination Of
which Ats 1t for special uses.
II is Of special value for shuttles. bob
bins, spool heads, golf club heads, in
fants' shoe lasts, small handles, brush
backs, turnpins, mallets, pulleys and
many novelties.
Shuttle blocks and shuttles, for
which dogwood and persiTnmon, to-
gether with a small quantity of box