Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1912 — THE EVERGREENS [ARTICLE]

THE EVERGREENS

By R. B. BUCK HAM.

To tell something really new about the evergreens would be a difficult task indeed, since the reader has doubtless been familiar -with their principal traits and characteristics since boyhood, and knows them all, root and branch. But a few facts relative to them may never theless prove convenient tor reference, and interesting and suggestive. First of all, then, they , are distinctly desirable as shade and ornamental trees, though many fail to recognize their value as such. In time, however, they will surely come to receive the place as such which is due them. * No tree can add more to the landscape than one of these, and especially in the winter reason, when so many others are leafless and forlorn. The wonder is that we do not see more of the evergreens in the streets of cities, and about fine'country places. Again, they are of prime value as timber. The price of soft wood lumber Is steadily Increasing, yearly. When this country was first discovered, and grants of land were given by the king, in most cases great care was taken to reserve the pine thereon to the crown. Its value was recognized then. Shall we fall to appreciate it, today? The evergreens are all of them hardy, and easily grown, and adaptable to almost any climate a„d condition of soil and surroundings. You will find the spruce growing on the exposed and chilly upper slopes of mountains, and again equally well along the muddy banks of a river, or in the depths of wet and gloomy swampland, or out upon the sandy plain. Only give them a fair chance and the evergreens will look out for themselves. There is ho portion of our nation in which they cannot be grown with success and to advantage. The present is always propitious with them. They care not whether times are good or bad, or what political faction is tn the ascendency. They are ready to launch put with you on a venture in the lumber business at any time, and they make pretty good partners to tie up with, too. The several varieties of the evergreens have their peculiarities, traits and habits, b means of which they can be selected- to conform to one’s individual circumstances. Thus, the hemlock and the larch seem to be able to endure almost any amount of moisture ft the soil, whereas the pine is best constituted tc thrive ft the most barren sands, and to endure long continued droughts. The spruce is the most successful of them all in doing without sunshine, curvivlng dense shade, and making itself at home on northern mountain slopes, where the snow Ungers far into the spring, and the sun makes out to shine but a little time each day. ' . Almost any condition of soil and situation can be met by these hardy growers, and they seldom fall to return a good profit to the man who Is willing to loan them the use of bjs land. If the large leaved trees retained their foliage throughout the year It is difficult to imagine what havoc wind and sleet and snow would not occasion amon 0 - them; but the foliage of the evergreens is so shaped that though retained throughout the year, no damage results in the fiercest gales. What would be the destruction of other trees, but makes music among the evergreens. Long may their lyres be attuned throughout the hills and valleys of our country! k . '