Ethics of the trees

PS 3507
‘R62 E7

1921

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Ethics of the Trees

By
FLETCHER BASCOM DRESSLAR

1971

THE STRATFORD CO., Publishers
BOSTON

Copyright, 1921
The STRATFORD CO., Publishers

Boston, Mass.

OCT 28 1921

The Alpine Press, Boston, Mass., U. S. A.

014630038

“Go Cornelia

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Yonder oak is one of an unbroken line.
Its brave ancestors throughout all its racial

history are now at work in its individual

life.
e

The tree which gets no joy out of its
own environment will seek in vain for

contentment.

[tJ

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Only trees of mutual understandings
and mutual needs can grow into a forest.

Trees do not make a forest; forests make

bind

All trees strive to grow. From beyond

the trees.

their own individual limitations a charge
is laid upon them. A call cometh from

afar, irresistible and precious.

[2]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

The Aspens shiver in the faintest breeze,
and are fearful in the storms. They are
ever pliant, and for the most part reach no

useful conclusions.

bind

Large numbers of trees in city parks are
defective. They would be safer in a more

natural environment.

[3]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Many trees are lopsided, because of their

bind

The weaker trees, and those that are top

neighbors.

heavy, lean with prevailing winds, and in

time must lose their balance and fall.

[4]

KTHICS OF THE TREES

The tree that groweth in the shadow of

its neighbors hath no power to stand in the

bind

The only adjustments tall trees can af-

open.

ford to make to prevailing winds are those
which insure deeper rooting and straighter

trunks.

[5]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Trees cannot dwell together without
mutual advantages and disadvantages.
The leaf mold that enriches the earth is

a general contribution from all for all.

bind

Trees transplanted from the land of deep
snows droop their branches in the sunniest
climes, and anticipate burdens that never

come.

[6]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

The weakling in the forest may, at
times, have to struggle for light; but its
strong neighbors shield it from the storms,

and the rains beat upon it with less

bind

The tragedies of the forest are those of

violence.

strength against weakness, of weakness
against strength; of age against youth, of
youth against age; of riches against pov-

erty, of poverty against riches.

[7]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Trees need the music of running brooks,
the songs of the wild birds, the summons

of an undefiled forest, and the spirit of the

hills.
fe

Some long-lived trees are too crooked
and gnarled for any worthy use, save to
make firewood and perchance to reveal

the humbleness of beauty.

[8]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

The darker side of a tree carries the
greater amount of moss, lichens, and other

parasites. But the whole tree suffers.

bin

For the most part all of the trees in a
great city lean toward the street, drop their
foliage prematurely, and scatter their pre-
cious seeds on unresponsive bricks and

stones.

[9]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

There is somewhere an environment for
each kind of tree, where it can reach its
fullest development, and best serve its pur-
pose. Removed from this, it may, for a
time, give great promise; but when tested,

its fiber shows unexpected weakness.

bind

A leaning tree may grow strong, and
stand for a long time, if its roots grapple

the immovable rocks on the upper side of

the hill.

[10]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

A vigorous, growing tree is constantly

bind

Out of apparently the same common

pruning itself.

sunshine and air, moisture and soil, all the
varieties of trees in a forest grow. The

individual tree is ever a new expression.

[11]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Trees grow by laying hold of the oppor-
tunities within reach, and you have never
heard of a successful one that did not
fasten itself to the earth, and lift its hands

toward the sky.

> eee

Trees are not safely transplanted when

old. Broken connections are then hard to

heal.

[12]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

An unbalanced tree discloses influences
over which it has had no control; and

always suggests weakness and lack of

bind

A gigantic Southern oak often succumbs

repose.

to the insistent and persistent influence of
the degenerate weakling parasite, the mis-
tletoe. The only salvation of an oak so
assailed is a resistance strong enough to
overcome. The finest and strongest oaks

grow where parasites do not flourish.

[13]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

One tree does not make a forest.

bind

There are trees which are of great serv-

ice just because they are beautiful.

[14]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

A tree is in danger of the storms when

bind

There is no call for a tree to grow tall

it gets top-heavy.

when isolated from its fellows.
4

[15]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

We have seen trees whose roots have
rent asunder gigantic granite boulders, and
whose branches had to contend with the
deep mountain snows for a large part of
the year. They were scarred, ill-formed,
and lonely, but clung to life with an en-
during tenacity deeply significant and
beautiful.

bind

And Jesus said: ““A good tree can not
bring forth evil fruit, neither can a cor-

rupt tree bring forth good fruit.”’

[16]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Those trees which are now found on the
earth are not like those which once flour-
ished. They have ever responded to the

call for an unceasing progress.

bind

Trees which wrought valiantly, but per-
ished long ago, still serve to nourish, ani-

mate and cheer.

[17]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

The song of the forest is deeper and

richer than that of any single tree.

bind

Most trees, even the best, have some

crooked branches.

[18]

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ETHICS OF THE TREES

It is often difficult to tell from mere out-
ward appearance whether a tree is really
sound or decayed at the heart. When

storms come, inner weaknesses are re-

bind

There are hopes of renewed life when

vealed.

trees put out new shoots on old branches,

[19]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

There are beautiful trees, and useful in

all parts of the globe.

bind

It is impossible to find a perfect tree.
Untoward influences never totally dis-

appear.

[20]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

The most difficult trees to uproot are
those that grow among the rocks. But
they are in danger of expending most of

their energy in taking hold.

bind

Those trees which lift their heads the
highest are those which must meet the

storms with the greatest resistance.

[21]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

The artists of the world do not find in-
spiration in a tree which has grown with-
out struggle, whose branches are straight

and even, and whose trunk reveals no

bind

‘Trees have a period for growth, and a

scars.

period for rest.

[22]

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ETHICS OF THE TREES

_———E_—_______ nnn

Each tree must do its own growing.
Other trees may shelter and protect: but

life and growth are individual.

bind

Where many big trees grow there you

find little or no underbrush.

[23]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Those trees which yield the most valu-

able wood are selected to serve the whole

bind

Some trees are most valuable because of

world.

the fruit they bear, and such trees need

the greatest care.

[24]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Some of the finest trees grow in for-
bidding ground. But they send their roots
deep and lift up their heads with joy and

bind

Those trees which attain full foliage in

gladness.

early spring must prepare against an early

autumn.

[25]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

The tall tree on the hilltop guides the
wanderer, tempers the storms, shelters the
weary, keeps the stream at its foot clearer,
enfolds the wild flowers with its leaves,

shields its weaker brothers, and softens the

bind

The latest rings in the growth of a tree

heart of adamant.

are always in the sap-wood. It takes time
for the heart to acquire its consistency, to
grow strong, to expand, and resist the ele-

ments from without.

[26]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

ee

Trees that stand alone are often pretty,

but they frequently produce more brush

=

You can walk over the tops of great

than wood.

forests of spruce, in the mountains of the
land of the midnight sun. These tiny trees
are full-grown, but they must lie close to
the ground or be crushed by the deep
snows of winter. And yet, even to these,

there will come a long and sunny day.

[27]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

A tree that can keep a sound heart is

likely to live a long time.

bind

Trees that strike their roots deep with-
stand both storms and drouth.

[28]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

If trees are crooked in youth they will

likely show some bend in old age.

=

Trees are always struggling to grow a
straight trunk, and to lift their heads
toward the light.

[29]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Trees with an unsound heart usually

begin to die at the top.

bind

Some of the most valuable trees have
a rough, wrinkled bark, and are not comely

in appearance.

[30]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Some little trees may be as perfect and

useful as the largest trees.

bind

All trees, good or worthless, have ene-
mies, and these enemies are best resisted

when trees just keep growing.

[31]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Trees of precocious growth are usually
soft-hearted, contain an undue amount of

sap-wood, and are weak and pliant.

bind

Those of old who went down to sea in
ships selected for the framework of the
hull those parts of trees which had grown
strong by reason of heavy burdens borne,
and, through much stress and strain, had
knit their sinews strong enough to resist
the waves of an angry sea. And so they
made the knees for their ship from the
great prop roots of the trees.

[32]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

‘The leaves of the trees are for the heal-
ing of nations, for these, under the influ-
ence of light, transform earth mold and

moisture into Life.

Young trees grow well when associated
together. But you have doubtless noticed

that some soon outstrip the others.

[33]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

Some trees are adapted for making fine

furniture. Others are best used for rail-

bind

In the unbroken forest there is tran-

road ties.

quillity in the calm, courage in the storm,
contentment in sunshine or shadow, un-
swerving obedience to the all-pervading
Spirit of Nature, and an unhesitating faith

in the call to live.

[34]

ETHICS OF THE TREES

The tall and stately sugar pines reach a
lofty altitude, but the best of them spread
their hands and bow their heads in the

presence of infinite space.

bind

POSTSCRIPT

What we see, what we hear,
Bringeth joy or a tear,

As waters give back a reflection.
What we read, what we keep,
Be it shallow or deep,

Revealeth the soul’s own selection.

[35]

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