624 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



Singularly enoiin-h. the oldest and most thickly i)u])U- 

 lated portion of the country and that within which the 

 greatest number of edible species of nuts are indigenous, 

 is today practically without pomological varieties for 

 planting. Within this area individuals have made tests 

 of species and varieties for many generations, yet little 

 progress has resulted. The obvious need is for further 

 test on a large scale. A better opportunity for the mak- 

 ing of such a test could scarcely be imagined than thai 

 of highway planting. 



Pomologists are firmly recomnu-nding llu' e.xclusive- 

 ness of budded or grafted trees. Hut this advice applies 

 only to orchard ])lanting for purposes of commercial 

 production. Until more and better varieties are kiidwn 

 and their merits established, that portion of the country 

 lying north of the pecan belt and east of the Rocky 

 Mountains must await the develojjment and trial of new- 

 varieties. Seedlings must be planted in large numbers 

 from which to select varieties. The process is too slow 

 and the ])ercentage of varieties which may be expected 

 to be worth while too small for it to be possible for the 

 individual to make much headway during an ordinary 

 lifetime. Our present system of national highways by 

 which all parts of the coimtry are being connected is per- 

 fecting the opportunity. The general planting along 

 these great national highways of elm, oak, poplar, tulip, 

 cedar, hemlock, luagnolia, pine or any other species 

 which, unless cut, are capable of producing no crop other 

 than that of shade, would hardly be in keeping with the 

 present need for utility. It wnnld be giving a question- 

 able degree of thought to the welfare of future genera- 

 tions. 



To the list of nut trees as utility trees there might be 

 added the sugar maple, and certain species of prolilic- 

 bearing oaks. The former could be drawn upon [or the 

 making of syrup and sugar, and the acorns from the lat- 

 ter could be put to good use as hog and turkey feed. In 

 wet sections, willows might prove useful from which to 

 cut material for furniture or tying bundles. 



A way of overcoming the objection of slow growth of 

 some of the nut species might be the alternate jjlanting 

 of (|uick-growing species which would furnish shade in 

 a minimum length of time and which c(nild be cut lor 

 ])ul]) or (jthcr purposes by the time the nut trees reach 

 maturity. 



A practical objection lo highway i)lanting of nut li-ccs 

 is that unless cared for, such trees are in danger of be- 

 coming breeding places for disease a!id insect ])ests 

 which would quickly sjircad to nearby orchards. How- 

 ever, such ])lanting in numbers too small to be woiih 

 caring for is not to be considered. .Already the cotuUry 

 is agreed that the maintaining of the middle of the road 

 in such condition that it can render nia.xinunn service is 

 a paying investment, 'ihe suggestion here made is 

 only as the next stc|i in highway investment. Tt is a 

 proposition to make more comfortable and attractive 

 the present system of roadways, and at the same time 

 to helj) develop new varieties of nut trees for orchard 

 planting. Unless new varieties are soon to become 

 available, a large part of the coimtry will find itself de- 



pendent ujion outside sources for its princii)al substi- 

 tute for meat and its main sujjply of vegetable fats. 



A little thought should he alile to work out a sound 

 program for the planting of utility trees on practically 

 every highway in this country. 



THE TOTEM TREE 



By H. E. Zimmerman 



A Civil War veteran of Union Springs, New York, 

 made this unique totem tree, which is eighteen feet high 

 and six feet in circumference. Thirty-four figures are 



carved on it. Unlike the idea in an Indian totem pole, 

 this was not intended as a family tree. The gentleman 

 made it after his own fancy, spending two summers in 

 decorating it with animals,^ birds, portraits and other 

 figures. At the top he built cute little bird houses, and 

 to heighten the artistic ( ? ) effect, he painted the objects 

 in a variety of colors. 



