176 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



these trees, like the rest, represent only sec- 

 tions of the country. What is wanted is 

 a concrerte type of American aboriculture. 

 inclusive of Maine, and Yellowstone Park, 

 as well as California and Florida. Prob- 

 ably the nearest approach to such a type is 

 one of the conifers. At all events, the 

 "election" promises to be interesting and 

 varigated. 



fragrance and merry crackling of a fire of 

 hickory bark? 



The hickory ! Let the sturdy aborigine, 

 the shaggy monarch, the "artist" tree, the 

 tree of uniquely American qualities, be 

 chosen as America's arboreal emblem ! 



The Plain Dealer of Cleveland nominates 

 the hickory as the real American tree and 

 then "clutters up" the minds of his readers 

 with a double column editorial on the 

 hickory's virtues of which this is a part: 



Cleveland Plain Dealer: Shall America 

 adopt a national tree? The American For- 

 estry Association says it shall, and is con- 

 ducting a plebiscite to determine the selec- 

 tion. Schools, civic organizations and other 

 bodies interested in Americanism and in 

 conservation have been asked to vote, 

 and already the balloting has become 

 spirited. 



The Plain Dealer nominates the hickory. 

 This is a distinctively American genus. It 

 is indigenous nowhere but in North Ameri- 

 ca, but it is found in almost everj section of 

 the United States. There are many species, 

 some with edible fruit, and some, other- 

 wise equally desirable, which bear nuts 

 unfit for human food. The hickory is 

 sturdy, and not ungraceful. Its flowers 

 are inconspicuous, but the opening of its 

 immense leaf buds in the spring presents 

 a mock-floral display more gaudy and 

 colorful than even the tulips, or lirio- 

 dendron. Hkkory wood is noted for its 

 toughness and elasticity. And what wood- 

 farer does not cherish memories of the 



A column editorial "clutters up'' the Salt 

 Lake Tribune with a review and opinions 

 of other editors and then concludes : 



Salt Lake Tribune: Whether or not the 

 Forestry Association succeeds in obtaining 

 so decisive a vote in favor of one or an- 

 other tree as to make it the pronounced 

 choice of the American people, the effort 

 undoubtedly possesses much of merit. This 

 merit lies not altogether in achieving the 

 aim of the undertaking the selection of a 

 national tree t>ift also in its educational 

 value in creating an interest in our woods 

 on the part of school children. This is 

 certainly worth taking into consideration. 

 The same may be said for various clubs, 

 whose adult members probably have, for 

 the most part, never learned much about 

 America's trees, and those of them who 

 learned anything at all about them in their 

 youth have forgotten that little. 



general is an excellent idea. The next gen- 

 eration will be thoroughly grounded in the 

 principles of conservation and development. 

 The tree that is selected should be em- 

 blematic of the American nation strong, 

 straight, staunch, enduring and should 

 grow in most, if not all, of the States. To 

 vote intelligently will take considc-'. 

 study and thought. 



Denver Times: Selecting a national tree 

 is as difficult as choosing a national flower, 

 at which all attempts have thus far failed. 

 So many noble trees grow in this country 

 that it is doubtful if a majority of voters 

 will settle on any one. The interest that 

 the contest is arousing in our forests and 

 the problems connected therewith will be 

 of considerable benefit, however, even 

 though no tree is elected. Encouragement of 

 school children to take an interest in the 

 matter and discuss trees and forestry in 



Watertown Standard: What is your 

 favorite tree? The American Forestry As- 

 sociation is taking a vote to find which 

 variety is most popular and to call that the 

 national tree. So far returns are incom- 

 plete and the voting remains open to any- 

 one interested enough to write his choice 

 on a piece of paper and mail it to the Asso- 

 ciation. 



Late reports show that the walnut is 

 leading in the vote up to date. This may 

 be like some straw votes in political cam 

 paigns, but it evidently does show a strong- 

 er trend in the direction of that tree than 

 might have been anticipated. Possibly one 

 reason for this is the wide advertisement 

 given to the fact that the walnut came close 

 to the danger line of extinction during the 

 war. ' It will be remembered that there was 

 urgent demand for walnut timber for mili- 

 tary use, and as a result information was 

 spread showing how little was left when 

 the hunt began. What must have happened 

 to the small stock when the ruthless de- 

 mands of war had been satisfied may be 

 imagined with ease. For this reason it 

 would not be a bad idea to center interest 

 on this valuable tree during the vote, even 

 if in the end the choice should be some 

 other variety. 



Financial Statement of the American Forestry 

 Association for 1 920 



EXPENSES 



Publication of Magazine $ 31,344.87 



Membership Solicitation 23,834.15 



Editorial and Business Office Expenses, 



Salaries, Supplies, etc 33,573.39 



Educational and Scientific Publicity 8,539.86 



Meetings and Legislative Activities 1,325.11 



Equipment, etc 1,687.50 



$100,304.88 



INCOME 



Membership and Circulation $ 55,490.44 



Advertising : 11,076.23 



Books and Premiums 438.90 



Donations for Educational and Scientific 



Work 19,689.09 



Bequests 5,613.51 



Interest 1,512.21 



Sale of Equipment 275.00 



$ 94,095.38 



Excess of Expenses over Income $ 6,209.50 



$100,304.88 



