The New York State College of Forestry Syracuse University FRANKLIN MOON Dean 1926 “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 o

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

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 c

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 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 de

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 Stat

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

First Prize. G. W. Gotham, 89 River Street, Cortland, N. Y. Two elms, the larger tree appears to have absorbed the growth of the smaller tree. Trunk of large tree is bigger above the graft. Second Prize. C. B. Cox, Adams Center, N. Y. Elm, trunk runs along surface of earth in half circle 45 feet near Adams Center on North Harbor Road. Third Prize. A. Wilson Insley, 30 Eagle Street, Mt. Morris, N. Y. Elm, one mile south of Conesus Lake. Fourth Prize. George J. Wiedmaier, 222 King Street, Dunkirk,

Louise D. Gaylord, 414 Cortland Ave., Syracuse, N. Y. Elm tree, ½ mile south of Wolcott, N. Y. Mrs. Chas. L. Williams, 166 Ridge St., Glens Falls, N. Y. Small cedars said to be exactly portrayed. The illustration is from a photograph of a painting and was therefore not eligible for a prize. Location—At the foot of Buck Mountain on east shore of Lake George. Perry D. Frazer, Ridgewood, N. J. Limbs of a Hickory tree joined about seven feet from ground. Near Ramapo, N. Y. Sadie E. Taylor, Protectio

George P. Van Buskirk, 27 West 129th English Spruce tree grafted upside down in England about 20 years ago, shipped to Smith Nursery at Amarack, N. Y., purchased 2 years later by Wm. R. Searles Mt. Kisco, N. Y. The Lonesome Pine, Cranberry Lake. Finds sustenance in a small tuft of moss and huckleberry bushes on top of a boulder. Newton C. Brainard, Hartford, Conn. Hornbeam trees naturally grafted. Fred Kenlive, Alden, N. Y. Beech trees near Alden. J. B. Lyon Co., Printers, Albany, N. Y....

Arthur Guiterman The New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University...