HARDWOOD RECORD 



25 



reach tbem. When the growths first begin to show, the twigs bearing 

 them could be cut off and destroyed, and in most cases that would 

 save the tree but it is evidently useless to do anything with a tree 

 on which the growths are as old as the samples sent, because th« 

 insects have long ago taken their flight, and it will avail nothing to 

 destroy their deserted houses. 



A remarkable fact may be mentioned in this connection, regarding 

 gall flies which cause excrescences of this kind, and it will serve to 

 show how very difficult it would be to successfully combat them, if 

 they should become numerous and destructive. Some of them repro- 

 duce by what biologists call ' ' alternation of generations. ' ' That 

 means, in this particular instance, that the wasp which issues from 

 the pignut hickory gall seeks some other tree or plant on which to 

 deposit its eggs. The gall thus produced may be very different from 

 that on the hickory, and the insect may not resemble its parent in 

 scarcely any particular. Thus a brood of the second-generation in- 

 sects might be coming on in the vicinity of hickory timber, while 

 persons on the lookout for signs of the pest would not suspect that 

 it was the old hickory fly in another form and hatching from a totally 

 different sort of excrescence. Nevertheless, the second generation, by 

 some kind of instinct or knowledge, goes back to the hickory to make 

 its attack, and the next generation is like its grandparents. 



Not infrequently insects of other kinds take possession of galls and 



excrescences which they had no part in producing. It is thus neces- 

 sary to exercise care in examining abnormal growths, or an intruder, 

 happening to be found there, may be mistaken for the builder. In 

 examining the hickory excrescences, in the present instance, fungus 

 was discovered in all parts of the growth, and it might have been 

 inferred that fungus' was the original cause but it appeared that the 

 fungus was wholly saprophytic — that is, growing in dead wood only — 

 and the probability is that it did not appear in the mass until the 

 wood was dead, and therefore could have had nothing to do with 

 causing the growth. 



The best guarantee against dangerous multiplication of gall-pro- 

 ducing insects, as well as wood borers, is the warfare which certain 

 other insects wage upon them. Some of these are large and powerfiU 

 wasp-like insects- that go about hunting for larvae, which they locate 

 with unerring precision though wholly out of sight in the centers of 

 large galls or deep in burrows in wood. The strong stinger is thrust 

 into the wood, like a nail is driven into a post, and pierces the ^arva, 

 though it may be an inch or more below the surface. If borers or 

 gall flies become too numerous in a locality their enemies with the 

 formidable stings are almost sure to appear and thin them down to 

 normal numbers. That is what is liable to happen if the cynips 

 become too numerous on the pignut hickory, and their very numbers 

 will bring destruction on them. 



' < croi;;^aBa>:^ M^ MMS^ts ^ii:Mii^^ 



V^orlcmens Compensation 



Editor 



The following is an address I'ead by Clarence L. Boyle 

 Association in session in that city June 3 and 4. 



The subject given me for discussion, "Workmen's Compensation," 

 presents many grave difficulties. In the first place, the matter for 

 consideration is highly scientific and, consequently, must be handled 

 with careful regard to available data. 



The thought to be developed will not permit of oratorical attempts 

 or rhetorical flourishes. We will have to hold close to the willows and 

 examine the situation with care and caution. Fortunately, I am ad- 

 dressing a body of business men. As I understand it, you are no' 

 here to be entertained but rather to consider seriously and take 

 counsel among yourselves touching important business matters that 

 hold close relation to the success of your present as well as your 

 future business activities. 



Before taking up my subject proper, permit me to say a word in 

 passing upon the propriety and very great wisdom of men engaged 

 in great business undertakings such as you men are engaged in 

 getting together and discussing conditions that prevail in your busi- 

 ness; if such conditions are harmful, then to adopt such measures as 

 will correct the evil. For, indeed, it must be conceded that if bad 

 economic conditions prevail in any business, and especially in the 

 great lumber industry, not alone will that particular enterprise suffer 

 but the whole body politic will suffer also. In fact, there never 

 has been a period in the history of the lumber business when close, 

 militant organization was needed more than at this very hour. 



In the last few years there has been an hysteria of the public 

 mind relative to the operations of men engaged in large undertak- 

 ings. The individual or organization that achieves success is at 

 once placed under the ban of suspicion. Achievement is a badge 

 of fraud. Property accumulation is evidence of sinister conspiracy 

 against the common weal. Courage, talent, enterprise, sacrifice, un- 

 ceasing devotion to an undertaking, if crowned with success, spell 

 nothing but dishonor, in the estimate of a very large class — a class 

 that is most a.^tive in moulding public sentiment. Of course there 

 are now End always have been business men who would take an unfair 

 advantage of the public. But why condemn all for the dereliction 

 of the few ? In every walk of life you will find the unworthy. It is 

 also true that in every walk of life the great majority is honest, 

 patriotic, fair dealing and earnestly seeking the right road to suc- 

 cess; otherwise, this fine old world of ours could not have traveled 

 as far up the steep im-line of progress as she has. Error may suc- 



's Note 



of K.insas City before the National Lumber Manufacturers' 



ceed for a space, but in the final equation it must and will fail. We 

 as a people have not gone forward and upward by the aid of error. 

 The composite purpose of all is right and true. This holds good with 

 those engaged in the lumber industry as in any other calling. When 

 the history of many of the southern and western states is finally 

 written it will be recorded that the men composing this organization 

 have wrought mightily for that which was enduring and most worthy. 



There has been a concerted attempt to discredit the lumber in- 

 dustry-, and this not only with the large manufacturing interests but 

 down to the small retailer, struggling for an existence. Just why 

 the lumber interests should be selected as a vicarious sacrifice is as 

 incomprehensible as Spencer's definition of evolution. There is a 

 story to this effect: An itinerant clergyman sat one morning in the 

 railroad station of a small western town reading Spencer's "First 

 Principles. ' ' A cowboy chanced in. ' ' What you be readin ', mister? ' ' 

 he inquired. "I am reading about evolution," the clergyman replied. 

 "What's evolution?" The clergyman read to the cowboy Spencer's 

 definition : ' ' Evolution is an integration of matter and concomitant 

 of motion ; during which the matter passes from a relatively in- 

 definite, incoherent homogeneity to a relatively definite, coherent hete- 

 reogeneity; and during which tbo retained motion undergoes a paral- 

 lel transformation." The poor eowboy wandered for days in a dazed, 

 semi-conscious condition. 



The lay mind can grasp the meaning of this uncalled for and vicious 

 attack on the lumber industry with about the same ability as the cow- 

 boy assimilated Spencer's definition of evolution. 



The fight is on and it is up to you gentlemen to defend yourselves. 

 You can not protect ,he interests you represent single handed. You 

 must stand together. Through this splendid organization you can 

 reach the public conscience. The trouble is the public mind has 

 been poisoned through the activity of those who have been actuated 

 either through malice or ignorance. You can, if you will, counteract 

 this poison. You can do this, however, solely through organization 

 and publicity. 



The business interests of the great state of Missouri at this very 

 moment are seriously jeopardized by reason of the indifference and 

 apathy of her business men. The legislature that has just adjourned 

 has passed a law relative to the important subject of insurance. This 

 law is so worded that it is seriously questioned as to whether in- 



