AMERICAN FORESTRY 



379 



BOWS OF YEW FOR MODERN 

 ARCHERS 



TT is a far cry from long-range rifles 

 and high-powered explosives to the bow 

 and arrow of the American Indian. Never- 

 theless, bows and arrows are still used 

 by the small boy, albeit not without sorrow 

 to the neighbor's chickens. There is also 

 a demand for stronger and more expensive 

 bows for archers of mature years. Doubt- 

 less these facts account for a recent sale, 

 on the Snoqualmie National Forest in 

 Washington, of a quantity of yew, to be 

 used in making bows. Although the For- 

 est Service of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture sells a variety of for- 

 est products for unusual uses, this is prob- 

 ably the first case in which the final prod- 

 uct is to be one of the oldest and most 

 common weapons known to the world. 



The yew has long been known as the 

 best of all bow woods. Famous English 

 archers would have no other. Richard 

 1 1 1 ordered bowyers to make four bows 

 of witch-hazel, ash, or elm to every one 

 of yew, in order that the supply of this 

 valued wood might be preserved. This is 

 said to be one of the earliest forest regu- 

 lations in England. The staves from which 

 bows were made in those early days were 

 seasoned for three years before being 

 made into bows and the bows were not 

 used for two years after being completed. 



The American yew is botanically very 

 similar to' the European yew. One of the 



three species in the United States grows 

 only in Florida and is a small tree. An- 

 other is a shrub growing in the north At- 

 lantic region, while the third occurs in tl 

 forests of the Pacific coast. It is the latter 

 that grows in the Snoqualmie National 

 Forest. When mature it usually is from 20 

 to 30 feet high and from 6 to 12 inches 

 in diameter. 



On account of its elasticity and strength 

 the Indians of the Northwest utilized the 

 wood of the yew for their bows and oft' 

 for canoe paddles. Yew wood is also well 

 adapted to carving and numerous attrac- 

 tive articles can be made from it. Not 

 only does the grain of the wood make it 

 possible to carve attractive designs, but the 

 combination of red bark, white sapwood, 

 and rose-red heartwood make especially 

 pleasing effects possible. 



FARMERS SHOULD OBSERVE 

 "WOODLOT DAY" 



A "WOODLOT DAY" should be estab- 

 lished for general observance by Penn- 

 sylvania farmers. It could be a day in the 

 spring as soon as conditions permit, when 

 small trees can be planted in the woodlot, 

 or tree seeds sown, according to Professor 

 J. A. Ferguson, of the Forestry Depart- 

 ment at the Pennsylvania State College. 

 "Just as Arbor Days are observed by 

 the towns people, so should the farmers 

 have a Woodlot Day, by official proclama- 

 tion, if necessary," he says. From the for- 



estry standpoint, a farmer is a man who 

 year after year cuts trees out of the wood- 

 lot and never plants any to take their 

 places. The process can have but one 

 ending, the gradual thinning out of trees 

 and the final loss of one of the most valua- 

 ble farm assets. For every tree that is 

 cut out, a dozen small trees should be 

 planted. 



A hundred little one-year-old hardwood 

 trees will not cost much to purchase. They 

 can often be dug up under trees growii 

 in the open, or thinned out from spots 

 where they are growing too thickly. They 

 can often be obtained free of charge from 

 the Pennsylvania State Forestry Depart- 

 ment at Harrisburg. A hundred or more 

 of these trees planted each year on "Wood- 

 lot Day" will keep the woodlot well stock- 

 ed and insure the future supply of a rapid'y 

 decreasing commodity. They are the chil- 

 dren of the woodlot and there can be no 

 future without them. 



Under the trees in the spring of the 

 year will be found many seeds that have 

 been stratified naturally under the snow. 

 They can be gathered and planted at once. 

 Many need no more attention than place- 

 ment in a hole made with a small stick 

 with the earth firmed over with the foot. 

 For small seeds a seed spot should be made, 

 the grass and weeds stripped off for a 

 foot and the seeds planted as any garden 

 seed. Establish a "Woodlot Day" on the 

 farm. 



BECOME A MEMBER 



Any person may become a member of the American Forestry Association 

 upon application and payment of dues. 



PLANT TREES 



PROTECT FORESTS 



USE FORESTS 



FILL OUT THIS BLANK:- 



American Forestry Association 



1410 H STREET N. W. WASHINGTON, D. C. 



I hereby request membership in the American Forestry Asso- 

 ciation and enclose check for $ 



INDICATE CLASS OF MEMBERSHIP 



Subscribing Membership, per year $ 3.00 



Contributing Membership, per year 10.00 



Sustaining Membership, per year 25.00 



Life Membership (no other dues). 100.00 



Annual Membership. 1.00 



Name _ 



Wis is the only Popular 

 National Magazine de- 

 voted to trees and forests 

 and the use of wood. 



Street _... 

 City 



