Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-22

Life and death are inextricably mixed
in this world. as the Good Book tells
us. 1t is significant that homes of
living men are built naturally among
trees, and that when loved ones are
placed to rest they. repose at last where
trees throw their leafy benedictions.
Thus trees cannot be regarded merely
as trees, but as living things interviewer
with the life and faith of men. In so
far as we shall remain true to our trees
We remain true to the best in us.
X X x X
The practical side of tree planting
comes in the simple determination to
| plant one. Most of us take our trees as
| matter, OF course. The boy who beats
or hacks tree does not realize that he
is injuring living thing which is much
older than he is and which perhaps can
never be replaced in his lifetime.
1t Is this comparative slowness of
growth, linking them to man with more
! than ordinary horticultural chains,
which makes 1t necessary for more peo-
pie to become aware of trees as things
OF immediate personal concern.
| There are communities in this vicin-
1ty where a transformation has been
wrought inside of five years by the
proper planting of trees, and others
where nothing has been done in this
matter
| Similarly in communities visitors may
see one home where trees were planted
lew years ago, as the years run, and
| another where nothing was done. The
first today is place of memories, the
| second a bare tract somehow lacking in
| both beauty and utility.
| The practical side Of tree planting
balances the estheitc phase. Trees
| should never be planted too close to q
| house, especially to a chimney. as in the
latter situation they tend to cut off the
draft.
The selection of what trees to plant
| is not to be left to chance or snap judg-
ment, but should be a matter of thor
| ough study. Many tree lovers are woe
fully ignorant of the good and bad
points Of the different varieties. Often
| they make the mistake, in their enthu-
| slaSm, OF planting trees which grow
| rapidly but decline at the same speed.
especially when they attempt to wrest
| living in competition with dust, as
phalt and gasoline fumes.
On the other hand, there are many
| splendid varieties which are of as quick
growth as Nature has made feasible
and yet contain in their sturdy con-
situations the seeds of long and Wig
orouS life. One of the best of these
trees Is the Norway maple, particu-
larly adapted to city planting because
OF It's neat habits of growth.
There are many other fine trees. in
the selection of which the American
Nature Association will be glad to be
OF aid. Nurseries will advise on the
problems of the amateur.
| Various home making magazines,
| which consider the aspects of garden
ing, are willing and able to help the
| home owner who is ambitious, not
only to plant trees, but to plant them
| properly, with due regard for himself,
his property. his community and the
Nation. The Department of Agricul-
ture has many helpful bulletins.
A tree is like any other PLAINTIFF
better care it receives the more chance
! it has of becoming what its owner
wants 1t to be. Newly planted trees
may be aided by supports of various
kinds which prevent the Winter winds
from unsettling their roots.
A tree, almost more than any other
plant, is not just something to be
stuck In the ground and forgotten,
but a living thing, with peculiar
methods Of growth which must be
known and taken into consideration.
| A tree is tough, but modern conditions
OF life are difficult, and those who
plant trees because they love them and
appreciate their beauty must be willing
to understand them and take care of
them.