The Project Gutenberg eBook of Freak trees of the State of New York, by Gurth Whipple
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FREAK TREES OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK ***
“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,” in fact,
everywhere in the woods, whether pathed or pathless,
is the dwelling of pleasure. In the woods abides
romance, mystery, music, laughter, beauty, inspiration, awe,
rapture. None can escape the broadening vision, the excitement
of the imagination, the poetic inspiration imparted by
contact with the teeming harmony of woods life. Even the
occasional discords are only minor notes that become part
of one universal rythm.
Added to their pleasure-giving there are their health
administrations. None, who go into the woods, fail to feel
the forest-refreshment to body and mind. Trees have many
values and many attractions. They present such a wide
diversity that they may be said to surpass in interest all
other products of the soil. Their traditions, their ancient
lineage, their physical properties are thought-absorbing; their
beneficence and human-like habits touch a responsive chord
in man. Much about them is as deep a mystery as the
farthermost star.
Tree shapes are generally beautiful even in distortion.
Freak trees attract the attention of all travellers. Probably
they cause more comment and speculation than almost any
other phase of the forest. They excite wonder; they challenge
our power of scrutiny and observation; they cause
the beholder to stop, to examine and to ponder. They are
sometimes inexplicable. They defy natural laws, as we
know them, that govern tree life, in a way that baffles our
understanding.
Freak trees often save the camper, the hunter and the
explorer from disaster. Trees that do not look like the vast
majority of their fellows compel attention and impress the
memory, identifying locations, streams and trails, and thus
often lead the lost like a guiding hand safely from the wilderness.
The true woodsman consciously and unconsciously is
ever looking for freak trees when he is traveling in a new
country. Freak trees are landmarks, good guides, good
friends.
Why do trees take on abnormal shapes? Is it something
in the character of the tree or is it due to accident? The
results of this contest indicate that tree-freaks are due to[Pg 2]
both causes the same as in the animal kingdom. It would
seem that a close parallel to the fortunes and misfortunes
of humanity may be traced in trees, which of things
inanimate are the constant and most useful companions of
men. Trees, like ourselves are products of their surroundings.
They are favored or injured in their development by
the changes that time brings in its march of years.
The Freak Tree Contest was for New York State trees
only. The contest covered the period of spring, summer and
fall in 1925. Many lovers of the woods took part in the
contest and sent photographs far too numerous to publish
in one leaflet. We have, however, reproduced within these
pages some of the most interesting pictures. The contest
was intended to encourage observation of the forest, to
arouse interest in trees and thereby aid in creating public
concern for the protection and increase of the forest.
Hickory, beech, maple, elm, locust, poplar, birch, ash,
cucumber, basswood, hemlock, pine, cedar, spruce, sumach,
and apple were represented in the contest. While practically
all of our common forest trees evidently take on unusual
shapes under favorable conditions the tree apparently most
given to abnormal growth is the elm. There were four times
as many photographs of freak elm trees submitted as any
other species. Maple comes next with beech and birch
following closely.
No section of the State seems to be particularly favored
with freak trees. It would appear that hardwoods or broad
leaf tree families take on malformations and curious twists
and turns more generally than the softwoods or conifers.
Choosing the winners was rather a difficult problem.
A marked divergence of opinion developed on the part of
the seven judges who made the selections. The committee
was composed of a forest botanist and pathologist, a wood
technologist, a landscape architect, an expert in woodcraft
and nature study, a professional forester, a collector of
photographs of freak trees and a newspaper man.
The pictures were judged from the viewpoint of their
shape and form that seemed to be contrary to the nature of
the species the freak trees represented.
Prizes were awarded as follows: $5.00 for the first prize,
$4.00 for the second, $3.00 for the third, $2.00 for the
fourth, and four prizes of $1.00 each.
Pine left, oak right, in New Hampshire. Not eligible.
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