OCR Text |
Show A Flea for the Maple Tree. At the last meeting of the Forestry association, as-sociation, at Grand Rapids, Mich., Mr. E. Davenport, of Woodland, Mich., read a paper in which occurred the following statements: "lam here for the purpose of saying a good word for the sugar maple. ma-ple. 1 believe that within the maple belt no other tree lays equal claims to the attention of those interested in the preservation of our forests or offers so good and economical means for the accomplishment ac-complishment of that purpose." In considering the subject it was urged that the sugar maple fills all the desirable desira-ble conditions or forestry better than any other tree, and that, everything considered, con-sidered, the maple sugar industry pays ; a great profit and may be considered in 1 tbe light of a permanent investment, . and that for forestry purposes proper, where the preservation of living forests is the desideratum, those trees are the most valuable that yield a revenue without with-out the loss of the tree itself. Timber trees declare a dividend only at death, and there is a strong temptation tempta-tion for their destruction. Tho nut bearing and sugar yielding trees declare annual dividends, and consequently there is a strong reason for their preservation. But nut heal ing trees flourish over a widB range, and there may be some danger dan-ger of overproduction, besides, as a rule, the timber of such trees is valuable and there is a constant temptation to sacrifice sacri-fice future welfare to present profit. With the sugar maple it is different. Of all trees yielding valuable products, its timber is worth the least in the markets; its annual dividends are high, and there is no danger of overproduction. It possesses pos-sesses the prime requisites for forestry purposes, viz., a valuable product and timber of little market value. Its life is about as secure as that of a valuable tree can be. Tho product of tho sugar maple is one of the choicest luxuries, and only needs to be known in its purity to be appreciated. |