The Planting of Trees as War Memorials 
At the annual meeting of the Managers of the New York Botanical 
Garden on January 13,1919, the following suggestions by Mr. Edward 
D. Adams were approved and ordered printed: 
At this time, when permanent memorials to the defenders of our 
flag by land and sea are being considered throughout our land, and 
projects for community monuments of various designs are planned, 
we venture the suggestion that individual, as well as associated, 
action can effectively and economically be taken in honor of all who 
have served or of those who have made the supreme sacrifice, by 
planting memorial trees. 
Such trees may properly be planted in the front yard, on the 
street, at the home entrance, in a park, as the decoration of an avenue, 
in single specimens or in groups of different species for artistic effects 
of form and color. 
As representing sentiments to be long cherished, such memorials 
would be tenderly cultivated and protected. 
Their shade and fruit would yield comfort and satisfaction. Their 
growth would add value to the home and become an asset that suc- 
ceeding generations would inherit. 
Naturally, only those trees should be selected for memorials to 
family, school, church, and municipal honor, that will grow best in 
each locahty and of those species that will be appreciated for their 
beauty, grandeur, long Hfe, and utihty. 
The number of kinds of trees suitable for memorial planting is 
large. The widely different cHmates of different parts of the United 
States require the selection of such kinds as will grow vigorously, and 
the character of the soil should also be taken into consideration; such 
information to those not versed in tree planting can usually be had 
from the nearest nurser3Tnan or from officials of the Agricultural 
Experiment Station. 
Those who live in homes without available grounds for planting, 
might contribute to the cost of a tree for its planting as part of a 
memorial grove in a park or garden. 
The selection of the tree, the preparation of the location, and 
the design of the label or honor roU, may be considered and carried 
out in family conferences and with the participation of each member. 
These preparations should be made as our men return, so 
that the signing of the treaty of peace may be celebrated over 
the nation wide by the simultaneous planting of the honor tree 
of each family and community that has cherished a service flag 
in the period of our war. 
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