Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1919 — PLAN TO REFOREST DENUDED FRANCE [ARTICLE]

PLAN TO REFOREST DENUDED FRANCE

American Forestry Association Will Aid in Planting Million and Half Acres. RIDSDALE CARRIES THE SEED - ■' - . 1 ' •- - ■ ■ Secretary of Association Takes Only Douglas Fir Seed to Be Had in This Country to Offer to France. Washington.—A little bag containing all the Douglas fir seed to be had in this country has gone to France to be offered to the French government as a help in reforesting France. P. S. Ridsdale, the secretary of the American Forestry association is in charge of the project. There are 50,000 seeds

and the value of the trees will be about $1,000,000. The American Forestry association is urging the planting of memorial trees in honor of the sailors and soldiers, and the suggestion Is Being adopted all over the country. The idea is to plant trees along motor highways, in connection with any memorials being planned, and in streets and avenues being named for war heroes. The association of which Qharles Lathrop Pack is president urges the planting of a tree in honor of the man who offered his life to his country also. Many Organizations Help. “In collecting the seed that France will want,” said Mr. Ridsdale before sailing, “the members of our association. the forestry departments of the various states, the boy scouts and other organizations will be called upon to help. i “A million and a quarter acres of forest in the north and east of France have been practically wiped out during the war. They were cut down by the contending armies for use in trench building, for barracks, for roads, for Y. M. C. A. and hospital buildings or were blasted to pieces by shell fire. But the sacrifice was not in vain, for the great defensive value of the forests materially aided France and her allies, in checking the German drives and saving more of France from invasion by the Huns. “The service w’hich the American Forestry association and its members will consider an honor to perform is to aid in the restoration of these forests which France had to sacrifice under the pressure of war. for no war has ever made such a call upon the forests for materials. “Alnjost a million French people were dependent upon these forests for six months of the year for a livelihood, and the French government faces a great economic problem in providing them with resources for sustaining themselves until the forests are restored.” Memorial Tree Plan. In St. Louis, Park Commissioner Cunliff is going to plant memorial trees qlong the famous Lindell boulevard. An “avenue of the allies” lined with trees in hbnor of the allied nations is one suggestion coming from some cities adopting the memorial tree plan. Another plan being worked out is for the planting of memorial trees along tlie transcontinental motor highways by the various-counties through which such highways pass. The Lincoln Highway association has taken up this plan. In Louisiana memorial trees are To be planted, one every 40 feet, along ■ the Jefferson highway in that state. This is the highway that leads to Winni peg, and the slogan is “From Pine ta Palm.” ■ - - - In many parts of the country churches are to plant memorial trees in honor of the members who fell in battle.