Many of the trees in the valley have thus bean crippled, by thoughtless persons seeking for Christmas trees who do not have the ability to appreciate their beauty and what they contribute to the charm of this locality.
Thoreau has well said that the person who really loves a tree is not the one who fondles it with an axe, or tickles it with a saw, or smooths it with a plane; but the real friend is the poet who admires it for its beauty. To see the Hemlock at its best is to view it in early June when the tips of the branches have a fringe of light new growth, the new growth that makes a strong contrast to the folage of the former year. In some sheltered nook the specimens are to be found. Here, unmolested by storms, the long drooping branches overlap like the shingles or a house. No native evergreen is more to be admired than this tree. Pine trees are sociable in their habits and naturally grow in groups for mutual protection from storms; when planted separately about homes, they frequently are, the foliage is apt to be injured by high winds which switch off many or the needle like leaves and frequently cause trees to become lopsided.
Of the deciduous trees that abound in this valley none is more worthy of passing notice than the Tulip tree; locally known as Poplar tree, though it is not a member of the poplar family of trees. It is one of the two remaining members of the almost extinct family of square leafed trees; the other member being round in China. It sometimes grows to a very large size, reaching a height of 200 feet with a diameter of 10 feet. One is North Carolina had a diameter of 16 feet and was free from lateral branches for more than 100 feet. The trunk is usally tall and straight, very slightly tapering and in is one of the most valuable timber trees. It is free from insects and fungal diseases and makes a very desirable shade tree, though rather difficult to transplant. Its large square leaves and square cup-shaped blossoms that resemble those of the tulip make it easy to distinguish from other trees. Its book name Lipindendron or Tulipifera may Seem meaningless to the one who does not take the trouble to understand it. Lirio has reference to the leaf which bears some resemblance to a lyre, Dendron means tree, and tulipifera has reference to the tulip-shaped blossom, hence we have a tree with a lyre shaped leaf and a blossom like that of the tulip. In the lowlands along this valley large numbers of these trees have grown up since the larger timber was removed some years ago.
|
