THE LANDSCAPE VALUE OF TREES 



By Frederick W. Kelsey 



With the growing interest in forestry the landscape 

 effect of the trees used for reforesting purposes should 

 not be overlooked. x\s country homes increase in number 

 the aesthetic features in both cultivated areas and wood- 

 lands become more and more important. Progress in this 

 direction in the United States may be classified into three 

 distinct periods. 



First: The early clearing of the native woods growth 

 with waste and destruction alike of the natural foliage 

 effects and the irreparable loss of the timber supply, with- 

 out consideration being given to future needs. 



Second : The awakening to a realization of this suicidal 

 policy as manifested in the conservation movement which 

 has now become a subject of nation-wide importance. 



Third : The prospective period when the beauty of the 

 forest grow1:h will in ithe treatment of forest land be 

 recognized as an important factor of development in con- 

 nection with the utilitarian purposes of the forest. 



The fact is now everywhere appreciated that a treeless 

 landscape is like a treeless city, an unattractive and de- 

 pressing sight. That it is extremely detrimental from an 

 economic viewpoint as well as from that of health and 

 material progress is axiomatic, and forcibly demonstrated 

 in the arid regions in China and other parts of the world, 

 while we have already convincing examples of it in por- 

 tions of this country where forest land is lying idle and 

 unproductive. 



Now, that the conservation and reforesting movement, 

 local, state, and national, has assumed such comprehen- 

 sive proportions, growing public interest will go steadily 

 forward toward remedying as far as possible the errors 

 of the past and providing for the future. 



It is to the use of attractive trees where practicable in 

 connection with reforesting developments, I would call at- 

 tention. The necessity of suitable trees in variety of size, 

 form, foliage, and flower for all landscape effects in pri- 

 vate and public parks, country estates and other ornament- 

 al grounds as planned or planted, calls for no elaboration 

 or discussion here. The conditions are obvious, and ef- 

 fective object lessons are matters of common observa- 

 tion. 



In the broader field of forest planning, how many 

 stop to consider what the future appearance of the plant- 

 ed area is to be? No one should be, or if well informed 

 could be so visionary or impractical as to contend that 

 beauty of the forest should be primal rather than a sec- 

 ondary or collateral consideration. Yet is there any 

 valid or tangible reason why, in the selection of the kinds 

 of trees for such planting, the varieties suitable for th? 

 soil and situation should not be chosen and the appearance 

 of the forest plantations in future years considered? 



The rugged pioneers, from the landing of the Pilgrim 

 Fathers to the wood choppers and timber cutters from 



New England to the Pacific Coast, could see no harm to 

 future generations yet unborn following in the wake of 

 their cuttings. The active hustling man of today, wheth- 

 er the get-money-quick type, the staid business or pro- 

 fessional man of affairs, or the industrial worker, as a rule 

 apparently loses sight of the important part art and beauty 

 play in national life as a country attains age and as cul- 

 ture and wealth reach toward higher civilization. 



In cities and urban communities this fact is becoming 

 more and more recognized. Attractive buildings, art 

 museums, fine parks, embellished parkways, municipally 

 planted streets and other attractive features, indicate the 

 trend of thought and effort to make both town and coun- 

 try beautiful. 



Trees in the picture cannot be overlooked; and in 

 some respects and in many places are the crowning feat- 

 ures of the landscape attractions. The builders of the 

 future a decade or more ago had the imagination to see 

 in advance of their time what these plans and construc- 

 tions would mean to the public, as we now see them and 

 enjoy them. 



There is no more beautiful and mysterious thing in 

 nature than the unfolding and growth of the hardy trees. 

 A combination of the deciduous and evergreen varieties 

 produces from the unfolding of the new buds and flowers 

 in spring until the incomparable tints and colors in au- 

 tumn one constant succession of marvelous effects. 

 Whether in lawn, park, or forest the contrast in form 

 and beauty attracts the beholder and enchants the lover 

 of nature. 



In forest planting in some locations it may be, not 

 infrequently is, necessary to use a single variety, resulting 

 in a monotonous and sombre appearance. But in many 

 locations where the general eflect is noticeable from far 

 or near, there would seem to be no difficulty in arrang- 

 ing the planting for the best attainable forest growth, 

 and at the same time making the plantation, at least in 

 some respects a thing of beauty as well. 



Even where no deciduous trees are admissable, a se- 

 lection of the evergreen varieties as commonly used for 

 forest planting, such as the Scotch Pine, Red Pine 

 and White Pine, the different spruces, Balsam and Doug- 

 las Fir, Hemlock, etc. interspersed with Larch, give a 

 variety of coloring which adds a picturesque feature to 

 the area as a whole without in the least detracting from 

 the forest growth required. 



For the encouragement of forest planting, the requi- 

 site trees are now grown in nurseries as well as in the 

 state forestry department in very large quantities. They 

 are produced at low cost and are sold at relatively low 

 prices. Tree seeds are also becoming more and more 

 an important business both for the use of nurserymen and 

 state nurseries, also for private forestry projects. 



