48 Our Field and Forest Trees 



know that forests are the nurseries of rivers. They 

 did not understand that when trees are ruthlessly 

 chopped down wells dry up. They only feared 

 that there would be no timber left in the country 

 for the building of ships, and without battle ships 

 England could not defend herself against Spain, 

 her fierce and strong enemy. Huge oaks were 

 cut down to make ribs and keels for the battle 

 ships of that time, and in countries which became 

 sea powers, ship building used immense quantities 

 of lumber. 



Today our battle ships are made of steel. We 

 are warmed by coal or gas. Many a cook of 

 today, whose grandmother prepared dinner over 

 a wood fire, uses a coal stove or a gas range, or 

 even it may be an alcohol lamp or an electric 

 cooker. Wire is taking the place of the old- 

 fashioned rail fencing. Cement has replaced the 

 board walk. 



In many respects this may be styled an age 

 of steel and cement. And yet wood has never 

 been more necessary than now. We need it con- 

 stantly for purposes of which our forefathers never 

 dreamed. 



Countless trees have fallen because their trunks 

 were needed for railroad ties. About three thou- 

 sand are wanted for every mile of track. Damp- 

 ness rots the ties and a fungus destroys them, so 

 that every few years they must be replaced. There 

 are a few people yet living who can remember the 



