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PARK AND CEMETERY. 
the tops and the roots. It is not always possible 
to suit the tops save by planting where some tall 
object will break the afternoon sun, but if the 
seeds are set deep, say four inches, and then the 
ground be mulched in summer, it serves the roots 
as well as it is possible to. Sow the seeds even 
before winter is over, if possible to do so. 
Unless Pawlownias have well-developed heads, 
it is much better to cut them almost to the ground 
when planting them. They then rarely fail to 
grow and usually make a strong young shoot many 
feet high by fall. 
The big tree of California, Sequoia gigantea, 
is hardier than many suppose. Cold has never 
hurt it in Pennsylvania to my knowledge. The 
trouble with it has come from the attack of a 
fungus, which destroyed the foliage. Bordeaux 
mixture seems to have settled that. 
To destroy a tree and not have it sucker from 
the root, as some trees are apt to do, there is no 
better way than to cut it down in spring just as the 
leaves have fully expanded. The sap in the tree 
has been expended and no more perfected by the 
new leaves. Poison vines are best cut down then 
than at any other time. 
For bordering lawns supported by a low wall 
nasturtiums, Barclayana vine or some other not too 
rampant a growing vine fits nicely. The over- 
hanging shoots take away much of the artificial 
appearance of the lawn which such a wall gives it. 
India rubber plants which are too tall may have 
their tops cut off and rooted in sand, in a green- 
house, in summer, or even in a sheltered position 
outside. Another way is to take a plant out of 
pot, plant it on its side and layer the top, doing 
this in early summer. By fall the layer will be 
rooted and can be cut oft" and potted. 
Joseph Meehan. 
NOTES AND COMMENTS IN THE FOREST. 
A few years ago when wandering through cut- 
over forest lands in middle Wisconsin my attention 
was called to the young sproutings springing up 
everywhere. I was much surprised to find a major- 
ity of them to be poplars, where formerly oak had 
dominated. The question at once arose in my 
mind: Are the forests of the future to contain soft- 
wooded trees? 
Again this past fall I noticed in spots along 
the forest covered shores of l.ake Michigan, north 
of Chicago, that a majority of the sproutings were 
Lindens. Here again the old trees were mostly 
oaks, with a sprinkling of hard maple, hickory and 
iron wood. The sproutings were most plentiful in 
those places where the leaves had been permitted 
to lie and rot, thus forming a layer of vegetable 
mold. This again would facilitate a ready trap 
for the flying seeds and once caught were soon 
washed down into the fertile mold. From those 
who know this preferable home of the basswood, I 
may say, that these patches of young sproutlings 
are found on the high lands now occupied by the 
oak. 
Thoughtfully I compared notes with those from 
Wisconsin and again asked myself the question: 
Are the forests of the future going to be soft 
woods? 
Forests have disappeared since the dawn of 
life and new ones of entirely different character 
have succeeded them. Thus the earth was once 
covered with a luxuriant growth encouraged by the 
moist atmosphere then prevailing to supply us later 
or when needed with fuel in the form of coal. As 
time passed and the submerged lands gradually 
rose above the water and the atmosphere getting 
drier the hardwood forests commenced to form 
themselves. But as civilization spreads over the 
surface of the earth these forests are gradually 
disappearing, partly through thoughtlessness but 
largely because we need them in our modern 
homes, as we need the vacated lands for food. 
Can it be possible that our present oak forests now 
disappearing are to be replaced by less valuable 
and useful timber? 
If this be true it remains with the forester to 
alter conditions and hence our forests of the future 
will largely be the product of the forester, supply- 
ing the demands of mankind. 
It is well known that soft-wooded trees are of 
faster growth than the hardwood varieties and if 
allowed to grow side by side will soon kill out the 
latter. 
From time beyond history written by men the 
forests of Denmark have changed several times; 
those of more recent date containing only oaks. 
But then the red beech — Fagus sylvatica — ap- 
peared and woe to the oak. Wholesale they were 
slaughtered in battle with the more rapidly grow- 
ing rival and today but a scattering one is left to 
tell the tale. The beech not only had the advan- 
tage in growing faster but its dense foliage soon 
took away the much-needed light from the oak, 
and its destruction was thus hastened. Beech 
makes poor lumber and outside of the carriage or 
wagon shop it is very little used, except for fire- 
wood; the consequence is that all building material 
has to be imported. But thanks to modern for- 
estry the next generation will enjoy cutting their 
own lumber with which to build their homes. 
James Jensen. 
