^nadian forestrp Journal 



VOL. XIV. 



OTTAWA, CANADA, MAY, 1919 



No. 4. 



TREES ARE THE BEST MEMORIALS 



Living Remembrances 



fenders That Will 



Endurmg 



of the Country's 

 Give Each Man 

 Monument 



an 



Trees are the best memorials. 

 In what more fittmg form can the respectful 

 sentiment of the hvmg be enshrmed? 



The newspapers are surcharged with bright 

 new ideas for the raising of monuments to the 

 soldiers who have fought their last fight and 

 paid the forfeit, and to those who having served 

 valorously have returned to civil life. Nearly 

 always the ideas are boxed in concrete, stone, 

 brick and asbestos — a memorial hall, a bridge, a 

 statute, a hospital. 



"He who plants a tree. 

 He plants love, 



Tents of coolness spreading out above 

 Wayfarers he may not live to see. 

 Gifts that grow are best ; 

 Hands that bless are blest. 

 Plant ! Life does the rest." 



Let us popularize a form of memorial that 

 identifies the individual soldier with an in- 

 dividual living monuments. One thousand 

 names may be hidden on a brass tablet within 

 a public hall. There is no reason why this mass 

 remembrance may not be given more dis- 

 tinction and made much more suggestive 

 through a living ever-renewing symbol. Trees 

 will perform this happy function perhaps better 

 than any other medium yet suggested. Let our 

 monuments to the country's defenders represent 

 our personal participation in the act of tree 

 planting rather than a charitable toss of a dollar 

 bill into a collector's hat. 



Woodstock's Plan. 



Southern Ontario already has moved in this 

 matter. Much activity is to be found in parts 

 of.the United States where Boy Scouts and other 

 organizations have been promoting the plant- 

 ing of highways in memory of Theodore Roose- 

 velt. Motor clubs have taken uj) cudgels for 



the planting cause and expeditions have been 

 carried out with success. A fine example was 

 recently set by the Woodstock (Ontario) Horti- 

 cultural Society, which has adopted a plan for 

 setting out a shade tree along a popular high- 

 way for every soldier who enlisted from the 

 county. The trees will be given permanent 

 identification plates. 



The Canadian Forestry Association has been 

 encouraging this work for months past and has 

 supplied to many applicants information that 

 tends to make planting work successful. Read- 

 ers of the Forestry Journal probably are aware 

 of the discouragements that often attend tree 

 planting by amateurs, but the observance of a 

 few simple rules will make the work simple and 

 pleasurable. There is every need that before 

 societies, schools, etc., commence a tree plant- 

 ing enterprise they should avail themselves of 

 expert guidance. Particularly is this true where 

 the tree stock is taken from woodlots and where 

 evergreens are being handled. Unless the latter 

 are cared for in ways that do not usually sug- 

 gest themselves to the amateur, failure is al- 

 most sure to result. The Canadian Forestry 

 Association desires to place its facilities at the 

 disposal of all Canadians who are interested in 

 tree planting and will be glad to co-operate 

 with bodies of citizens planning a programme 

 for the fall months. At this season, it is im- 

 probable that many will care to take the risks of 

 transplanting trees in full leaf to new locations. 

 But a busy season should open in the fall. 

 Meantime the Forestry Journal will contain 

 special articles for tree planters that should be 

 kept handy. The following by Mr. F. W. H. 

 lacombe, of the Dominion Forestry Branch 

 should help many to steer clear of common 

 errors. 



