Landmarks 
When we pass through tree lined streets and 
see tree‘ plantations dotting the countryside, and 
when we are aware of branches bending low with 
fruit in city gardens and outlying orchards, it is 
easy to take such for granted. On the contrary, 
our big western country sloping away from the 
Rocky Mountains was once literally the “Treeless 
Plains” except for the fringes of growth along 
streams. 
Our early day settlers felt that trees must be 
a part of their new homes and sapling trees fol- 
lowed the plow. But they succeeded the hard way; 
trial and error. There was no one, yet, who could 
tell them just what would thrive best, but they 
planted just the same, moving small cottonwoods 
from the river bottoms, and naturally, sentiment 
made them take west such seeds and sprouts that 
they knew near the home that was left in the 
middle west or east. 
The elements did a lot of sorting out, and to- 
day, the firiest big trees) we have are a heritage 
from those who toiled to make that new country 
a better place to live for later generations. We 
sometimes forget that we have a similar duty, no 
less urgent, in passing on nature’s bounty to those 
succeeding us. Science and industry have won- 
derful things in store for us during peacetime, but 
it still will require trees, fruit, and flowers to help 
balance the morale of human existence. 
Nor can we ever just take it for granted that 
our total American heritage is again being pre- 
served. Conveniences of peacetime are a reward 
at a price paid in many ways. Although countless 
sacrifices are being made, we are being spared the 
price of torn fields and the rubble and ashes of 
buildings. We are privileged to enjoy nature’s 
beauty and fruitfulness and we have our country- 
sides undamaged for further planting, now, or as 
soon as we can do all we have wanted to do when 
the millions who are away can be home again. 
