CHAPTER XL 

 THE HALL OF FAME FOR TREES 



IT is fitting that trees should have their own Hall of 

 Fame to give permanent record to their participation 

 in history. 



Through all the ages the trees have had important 

 share in human progress. Under all conditions and in 

 all climes they have proved themselves the best of good 

 citizens. Their story is closely interwoven with the 

 fabric of time. They have been a part of statecraft, war, 

 art and literature, and they have stood as silent witnesses 

 to man's achievements and solemn participants in his 

 councils of destiny. To carry their message of the past 

 to the generations of the future is an enterprise of vivid 

 appeal to the imagination. 



Since the creation of the idea of a Hall of Fame for Trees 

 the spirit of recognition has spread to all parts of the United 

 States. The study of the trees presented as candidates for 

 admission to the Hall of Fame has been a study of American 

 development. Trees now living and offered as nominees 

 have been sentries of history written and unwritten. Re- 

 search into the individual records of the candidates has 

 been an intimate education in the progress of the New 

 World of Columbus, Washington and Lincoln. 



To cover the life span of the nominees the imagination 

 must go back 4000 years and more. In the Redwood 

 forests of California stands a tree whose claims rest 

 on the simple statement of age. The General Sherman 

 Sequoia is declared to be the oldest thing now liv- 

 ing. It was of giant growth at the time of the birth of 



Christ, almost 2000 years ago. To-day, at an age of 

 120 



