Bob Feeser
06-26-2007, 11:06 PM
I have a neighbor who just got back from Palestine. Wood their is at such a premium, that only the wealthiest people have it in their homes. Trees do not normally grow there. What they do is start them indoors, then nurture them for their entire lives outside. I believe she told me that it is desert sandy, and the only type of trees that grow naturally are date palms etc.
Phew it is incredible to realize just how fortunate we are to be living in wooded locations. I am from Pennsylvania, and that is after the name change from "Penns Woods" to Pennsylvania.
All the time I was feeling bad, because in reality, the huge, straight, truly old trees were all harvested a long time ago by settlers etc. If you read the book called "Understanding Wood" written by Hoadley, you come to understand that the old trees were the type that were very slow growth, had tight rings, and were a lot denser. Those were the ones that were harvested first. What was left to reproduce were the quick growth, bent trunk kind. Quick growth trees are nowhere near as dense.
Locally we have Longwood Gardens, owned by a Dupont family member and on that property, and alongside it, are some beautiful stately tall straight timbers. I am glad someone decided to preserve those guys. Their seedlings can be replanted to produce more of these high quality trees.
Then I see how expensive wood is in Palestine for example, and I realize that we are pretty fortunate after all.
Phew it is incredible to realize just how fortunate we are to be living in wooded locations. I am from Pennsylvania, and that is after the name change from "Penns Woods" to Pennsylvania.
All the time I was feeling bad, because in reality, the huge, straight, truly old trees were all harvested a long time ago by settlers etc. If you read the book called "Understanding Wood" written by Hoadley, you come to understand that the old trees were the type that were very slow growth, had tight rings, and were a lot denser. Those were the ones that were harvested first. What was left to reproduce were the quick growth, bent trunk kind. Quick growth trees are nowhere near as dense.
Locally we have Longwood Gardens, owned by a Dupont family member and on that property, and alongside it, are some beautiful stately tall straight timbers. I am glad someone decided to preserve those guys. Their seedlings can be replanted to produce more of these high quality trees.
Then I see how expensive wood is in Palestine for example, and I realize that we are pretty fortunate after all.