320 



RECREATION. 



THE FOREST AND THE SOIL, 



In a mountainous country the rocks are 

 constantly disintegrating and feeding the 

 soil, but in sandy regions— especially those 

 which are cultivated — and forest soils 

 which are subjected to fire, there is a con- 

 stant loss of nutrient materials from leach- 

 ing, etc. 



Every vegetable covering deposits on 

 the soil organic droppings, which decay 

 and form humus. The humification of this 

 material is modified by various circum- 

 stances. The droppings from conifers 

 decay much more slowly than those from 

 deciduous trees. Warmth and drainage 

 are also important, but the most impor- 

 tant feature is aeration. This aeration is 

 mainly dependent on the fauna of the 

 woods. The more numerous the earth- 

 worms and other creatures which loosen 

 the surface soil, the more complete is the 

 ventilation and the more rapid the humifi- 

 cation in consequence. The soil is passed 

 through the bodies of the earthworms and 

 is rendered much more friable and fertile 

 by the process. The great aim of the 

 Danish forester is to get his forest soil in 

 such a condition that earthworms thrive, 

 and its effect is soon apparent on the tree 

 growth. It is often the humblest creatures 

 that accomplish the greatest work, and, as 

 was long ago demonstrated by Darwin, 

 the earthworm is by no means the least 

 important. 



The Parks and Forestry Committee of 

 the Asheville, N. C, Board of Trade called 

 an interstate meeting at Asheville, which 

 was held November 22d, to form an as- 

 sociation and take practical steps for con- 

 summating the plan for a great forest pre- 

 serve in the wild mountain regions of that 

 State. It aimed to bring the matter be- 

 fore Congress, with a popular request for 

 a commission to inquire into the feasibility 

 of a National Southern Park in North 

 Carolina. A large petition was signed, and 

 the committee is assured of the aid of the 

 State representatives and of many in- 

 fluential citizens who have long favored 

 the movement. Its importance to the 

 South and to the nation is claimed to be 

 of the first magnitude. I earnestly hope 

 the movement may be successful. 



BEES AND THE FOREST. 



The same might be said of bees, which 

 do an immense amount of good in fertiliz- 

 ing the flowers of many forest trees, thus 

 increasing the quantity of seed, and in 

 consequence the number of trees. It is 

 very noticeable how full of seed basswoods 

 and locust trees are almost every year in 

 the neighborhood of apiaries. The pro- 



duction of honey and wax has long been 

 an important forest occupation. During 

 the middle ages the peasants often paid 

 their taxes to the church in the form of 

 honey. The wax was in great demand for 

 candles, and from the honey the monks 

 brewed mead. 



"I regard the forest as an heritage, given 

 to us by nature, not for spoil or to devas- 

 tate, but to be wisely used, reverently hon- 

 ored and carefully maintained. I regard 

 the forest as a gift intrusted to us only for 

 transient care during a short space of time, 

 to surrender to posterity again as unim- 

 paired property, with increased riches and 

 augmented blessings, to pass as a sacred 

 patrimony from generation to generation." 

 — Baron Ferdinand von Wuethler. 



A ROBIN PIE. 



IONE G. DANIELS. 



(After having been offered a helping of 



pie made of 18 robins.) 

 It hath been said by many an one, 

 "There is nothing new under the sun." 

 But the phrase has lost its pith to me, 

 Since yesternight at a Sheldon "tea." 



The feast was great, the guests were few, 

 The edibles choice — and one was new; 

 So new, it startled an untrained ear 

 The very name of the dish to hear. 



Not since the famous nursey fake 

 Of the "four and twenty" blackbird bake, 

 In all the novelties 'neath the sky, 

 Had I ever heard of a Robin Pie! 



'Twas a dish of song! The sweets of 



spring, 

 Smothered and baked in a pastry ring; 

 Just eighteen notes and thirty-six wings, 

 Missed from a world of beautiful things! 



It may seem small to estimate these 



On a planet swarming with birds and trees, 



But, if in a flock of sparrows, one 



In falling, shadows a sea of sun, 



And nothing escapes the Father's eye, 



In the blazing spaces of world and sky, 



Then am I glad I rev'rently hold 

 The russet crimson and Roman gold 

 Of the Robin's breast! Its life and mine, 

 In touch with Heaven and the life divine! 

 Sioux City, la. 



I can scarcely express in words the great 

 pleasure I derive from reading each new 

 number of Recreation. 



Chas, H, Weaver, Bethlehem, Pa. 



