Overview:
This 1914 guide, “Studies of Trees” by J. J. Levison, aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of trees for beginners. The book covers various aspects of tree life, including identification, structure, planting, care, forestry, and wood identification. Levison emphasizes practical applications and encourages readers to observe trees in their natural settings. He explores the unique characteristics of each tree species, highlighting key features for identification throughout the year.
The second half of the book delves into practical applications, focusing on planting, caring for, and utilizing trees. Levison addresses common tree diseases, insects, and pruning techniques, emphasizing the importance of proper treatment and preventative measures. The final chapters delve into forestry, covering forest establishment, protection, and utilization, highlighting the vital role forests play in preventing soil erosion and floods.
Key Findings:
- Tree Identification: The book provides a detailed classification system based on easily identifiable features, making it accessible for beginners.
- Tree Care: Levison stresses the importance of proper tree care, including recognizing and treating diseases and insect infestations.
- Forestry Practices: The guide emphasizes the importance of conservative lumbering practices for long-term forest health and sustainability.
- Forest Ecosystem: The book highlights the interconnectedness of forest ecosystems, demonstrating how trees regulate water flow, prevent soil erosion, and contribute to the overall health of the environment.
Learning:
- Tree Recognition: Readers will learn to identify various common tree species throughout the year using a variety of distinguishing features, including leaf shape, branching patterns, bark characteristics, and bud structure.
- Tree Structure: The book clarifies the internal structure of trees, explaining the roles of the stem, crown, and root system in their survival and growth.
- Tree Care: Readers gain practical knowledge on addressing common tree issues, including insect infestations and diseases. They learn about preventative measures, like proper pruning, as well as remedial treatments for various ailments.
- Forestry Practices: Levison details sustainable forestry practices, emphasizing the importance of responsible timber harvesting and forest conservation for long-term ecosystem health.
Historical Context:
Published in 1914, the book reflects the growing awareness of environmental conservation in the early 20th century. The United States was experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization, leading to widespread deforestation and environmental degradation. “Studies of Trees” emerged as part of a broader movement to promote scientific forestry and sustainable practices, advocating for forest preservation and responsible resource management.
Facts:
- Pine Needles: Pines can be distinguished by the number of needles per cluster, with white pine having five, pitch pine having three, and Scotch pine having two.
- Spruce vs. Hemlock: Spruce needles are four-sided and green or blue on the underside, while hemlock needles are flat with two white lines on the underside.
- Red Cedar: The red cedar, also known as juniper, is a medium-sized tree with a symmetrical, cone-like form. It’s commonly used for making pencils and has a distinctive dull green color with a tinge of brownish red.
- Larch and Cypress: These are the only cone-bearing trees that shed their leaves in the fall. The larch has needle-shaped leaves in clusters, while the cypress has flat, feathery leaves.
- Horsechestnut: This tree has sticky terminal buds that are large, dark brown, and about an inch long. Its leaves have five to seven leaflets, usually seven.
- White Ash: The white ash is easily recognized by its flattened twigs, rusty-brown buds, and leaves with five to nine leaflets.
- Sugar Maple: This tree has a sharp-pointed, scaly, reddish-brown bud. The leaves have sharp points and rounded sinuses.
- Silver Maple: The tips of the silver maple’s twigs curve upwards, its bark is scaly, and its leaves are deeply cleft and silvery on the underside.
- Red Maple: The red maple is known for its smooth, light gray bark, especially on upper branches, and its red terminal twigs.
- Norway Maple: The Norway maple has a reddish-brown bud that exudes milky juice when removed. Its leaves are similar to sugar maple but thicker and darker.
- Box Elder: The box elder has green terminal twigs and small, round buds. Its leaves have three to seven leaflets.
- American Elm: The American elm is characterized by its vase-like shape, with limbs arching out into a wide-spreading fan. Its leaves are simple, alternate, and two to five inches long.
- Lombardy Poplar: This tree has a tall, slender, spire-like form with rigidly erect branches that start low on the trunk.
- Gingko: This unique tree has peculiar branches that emerge upwards at an angle of about 45 degrees, giving it a striking, Oriental appearance. Its leaves resemble maidenhair fern leaflets.
- Weeping Willow: The weeping willow is easily recognized by its drooping mass of slender branchlets.
- Sycamore: The sycamore has mottled bark that sheds in large, thin, brittle plates. Its leaves have stems that completely cover the bud.
- White Birch: The white birch has a dull-white bark with dark triangular patches below the branch insertions.
- Beech: The beech has a smooth, gray bark and long, slender, sharp-pointed, chestnut brown buds.
- Blue Beech: The blue beech has a fluted trunk and doubly serrated leaves.
- Hackberry: The hackberry is easily recognized by the corky tubercles on the bark of its lower trunk.
- White Oak: The white oak has a light gray bark that breaks into soft, loose flakes. Its leaves are deeply lobed, and its acorns are usually stalkless and set in shallow, rough cups.
- Black Oak: The black oak has a black, rough bark with deep ridges. Its leaves have sharp points and are wider at the base than at the tip.
- Red Oak: The red oak has a smooth, light gray bark that forms long strips. Its leaves have more lobes than other black oak group members.
Statistics:
- Pine Species: There are approximately 80 distinct species of pines with over 600 varieties.
- Spruce Species: There are 18 recognized species of spruce.
- Hemlock Species: There are 7 species of hemlock, found in North America, Japan, and China.
- Red Cedar Species: There are 35 recognized species of juniper (red cedar).
- Arbor-vitae Species: There are 4 species of arbor-vitae.
- Larch Species: There are 9 recognized species of larch.
- Bald Cypress Species: There are 2 species of bald cypress.
- Tussock Moth Eggs: The Tussock moth lays clusters of nearly 350 eggs.
- Gipsy Moth Eggs: The female Gipsy moth lays flat egg masses that are round or oval in shape.
- Leopard Moth Larvae: The Leopard moth larva can grow from 3/8 of an inch to 3 inches in length.
- Locust Posts: Black locust fence posts can last from 15 to 20 years.
- Forest Fires: An estimated 10 to 12 million acres of forestland are burned over annually in the United States.
- Forest Fire Damage: The timber lost to forest fires each year is estimated at 50 million dollars.
- National Forest Land: The United States government owns over 200 million acres of forestland set aside as National Forests.
- Farm Woodlot Returns: A farm woodlot planted with white pine can yield a 6% investment return and an extra profit of $151.97 per acre after 50 years.
- Tree Seedlings: Two-year-old seedling trees can range from 2 to 15 inches in height.
- State Forestry Commissions: Many states have established Forestry Commissions that manage forestland and promote tree planting.
- U.S. Forest Service: The U.S. Forest Service manages over 150 individual National Forests.
Terms:
- Coniferous: Relating to trees that bear cones, typically evergreen trees.
- Deciduous: Relating to trees that shed their leaves seasonally, typically in the fall.
- Annual Rings: Concentric circles on the cross-section of a tree trunk, representing one year’s growth.
- Cambium Layer: A thin layer of cells just beneath the bark, responsible for the growth of new wood and bark.
- Heartwood: The darker, denser, and often more durable inner wood of a tree, no longer actively transporting sap.
- Sapwood: The lighter, outer wood of a tree, responsible for transporting water and nutrients.
- Humus: Decomposed organic matter in soil, rich in nutrients for plant growth.
- Lenticels: Tiny pores in the bark of trees that allow for gas exchange.
- Mycelium: The network of branching filaments that make up the body of a fungus.
- Spores: Microscopic reproductive units produced by fungi.
- Resin Ducts: Channels in the wood of some conifers that carry resin.
- Pores: Openings in the wood of broadleaf trees, representing cross-sections of vessels that transport water.
- Ring-porous: Describing wood where large pores are clustered in a ring within the annual ring.
- Diffuse-porous: Describing wood where pores are evenly distributed throughout the annual ring.
- Wood Parenchyma: A type of cell found in wood, often arranged in lines or surrounding pores.
- Tyloses: Projections of parenchyma cells into the vessels of some woods, plugging the pores.
- Medullary Rays: Thin plates of cells that radiate outwards from the pith of a tree, visible as streaks or flakes in quartersawed wood.
Examples:
- White Pine: This tree is known for its five needles per cluster and its stately, vase-like shape.
- Red Cedar: The red cedar is a common tree in the eastern United States, recognizable by its symmetrical, cone-like form and distinctive, dull green color with a tinge of brownish red.
- Sugar Maple: This tree is prized for its sweet sap, which is tapped for maple syrup. It is also recognized by its sharp-pointed buds and rounded leaf lobes.
- American Elm: This majestic tree, with its distinctive vase-like shape, is a common sight in urban areas.
- Black Locust: This fast-growing tree is known for its thorny branches and its hard, durable wood, commonly used for fence posts.
- Weeping Willow: This iconic tree with its cascading branches is often planted near water sources and in cemeteries.
- Sycamore: The sycamore is a large tree with mottled bark that sheds in large plates, revealing a smooth, yellowish-green surface.
- White Birch: This graceful tree with its distinctive white bark is often used in ornamental plantings.
- Oak: The oak is a strong, durable tree with a variety of species, including the white oak, known for its loose-flaked bark, and the black oak, known for its dark, ridged bark.
- Chestnut: The chestnut tree was once a common sight in eastern forests, but has been decimated by the chestnut blight.
Conclusion:
“Studies of Trees” provides a valuable resource for understanding the diverse world of trees. Levison skillfully combines scientific knowledge with practical advice, making it an engaging and informative guide for tree enthusiasts of all levels. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique features and needs of different tree species, fostering a deeper appreciation for these vital components of our environment. The book also highlights the significance of responsible forestry practices for ensuring the health and sustainability of our forests, advocating for environmental conservation and responsible resource management.