i8gg. 



AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



239 



on the score of "sentimental reasons," 

 or "theorizing opinions" of "misin- 

 formed enthusiasts" terms which are 

 sometimes applied to those who favor 

 forest conservation as opposed to forest 

 destruction. The letter reads: 



"Answering your circular letter of 

 July 5, 1899, upon subject of protection 

 of forest, we beg to say that positively 

 no effort to do this, other than to save 

 valuable standing timber when aflame or 

 threatened, has ever been made in this 

 vicinity. To protect trees too young and 

 small for sawing is not thought of. 

 Owners of timber simply go on their 

 lands and as quickly as possible remove 

 timber fit for lumber, with positively no 

 thought or care for the life and protec- 

 tion of the young trees, or varieties not 

 at the time valuable for lumber, leaving 

 debris to dry and finally burn, resulting 

 in the total destruction of all remaining. 



"Large areas are now simply scenes 

 of desolation. Waste pure, simple and 

 shameful has characterized the remov- 

 al of the forests once here, which were 

 magnificent. Many varieties, notably 

 Hemlock, Beech, Soft Elm, were left to 

 burn, or were destroyed in clearing lands. 

 We think it is within the truth to say 

 that not over 50 per cent of the possible 

 quantity available for man's use has been 

 utilized the remainder has perished. 

 'Tis true that the demand for the cream 

 only, largely accounts for the waste ; 

 still, splendid interest on the cost of 

 protecting, years ago, the timber not 

 then valuable, would now be realized, 

 as is instanced by the fact that despised 

 Soft Elm, the very best of which was 

 bringing only $3.00 per M in log, is now 

 sought for at from $9.00 to $11.00, and 

 the lumber is in demand at $18.00 to 

 $28 00, shipping point. Beech would 

 not then be accepted at any price in logs. 

 The lumber now fetches $10.00 to $15.00. 

 The destruction of Michigan forests is 

 relieved from the charge of act of van- 

 dalism only by the fact that the owners 

 did it. and, under the law, could do as 

 they wished with their own: but their 

 action has deprived posterity of a fine 

 heritage." 



The Kind of Trees to Plant. 



The example set by Kansas City in 

 improving its streets by the construction 

 of parallel parkways in which to plant 

 shade trees on scientific principles, has 

 been followed by other towns through 

 Missouri and adjoining States. In reply 

 to inquiries, the City Forester of Kan- 

 sas City, L. F. Timming, gives the fol- 

 lowing observations on his expeiiments : 



"The tree which ranks first in my es- 

 timation as a shade and ornamental tree 

 is the Hard Maple, of which there are 

 two varieties ; namely, the Sugar Maple 

 and the Black Maple, but on account of 

 their slow growth I prefer to alternate 

 them during the first ten years with some 

 faster-growing variety, for example, the 

 Soft Maple. Of the Soft Maple we also 

 have two varieties, namely the Red Scar- 

 let Maple and the White or Silver Maple, 

 of which the former is less liable to be- 

 come affected by insects than the latter. 

 As an all-round shade tree for our city I 

 know of none better than the Soft Maple, 

 but it requires some training while young 

 in order to keep the head in proper bal- 

 ance with the trunk If once well de- 

 veloped it will stand high winds about as 

 well as the average tree, but it is liable 

 to be attacked by the treesoc moth, but 

 not to any great extent 



" The Sycamore tree has also two vari- 

 eties, the Oriental and the Sycamore 

 Maple. The Oriental Plane tree is the 

 better, and is an imported variety. The 

 Sycamore Maple is our common native 

 Sycamore, and it belongs to the Maple 

 family, and is therefore subject to the 

 same natural requirements as the Soft 

 Maple. It is a rapid grower and does 

 not break as easily as the Soft Maple, 

 and is not so liable to be attacked by in- 

 sects as the Soft Maple or the Elm. It 

 bears transplanting and trimming re- 

 markably well. Its drawback is that it 

 grows too large for an ordinary street 

 tree, and as it becomes full grown the 

 bareness of its branches and the con- 

 stant shedding of its leaves during the 

 summer are its principal objections. 

 Deep soil is preferable, but not an es- 

 sential." 



