Gainesville — The Publisher’s Pen by Jim Perry, Sunday, April 22, 2011







Special day should not go unnoticed



We're missing a very special day. There's not even a reminder on the

calendar anymore. Like Mother's Day, Father's Day and birthdays, it's

a day we need to remember but so often can forget.



Some of the more obscure special days like Grandparent's Day and

Mother-in-law Day are easily missed. And let's not forget National

Administrative Professional Day next Wednesday. It used to be called

Secretary's Day but that's not a politically correct title anymore.

The florists and greeting card people always try to remind us of the

obscure days with their ads and in-store displays. It's in their best

interests to have as many special days as possible. I can't recall

ever seeing an ad to remind me about the special day I'm referring to

here.



I’m talking about tree day or Arbor Day. America is the land of trees.

I think it is important to think about trees and set aside a day to be

thankful for them. National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday

in April, which is April 27th this year.



Without the trees many things would be lost. This newspaper would not

be possible. Without our trees this would be a barren world. Arbor Day

began in Nebraska on April 10, 1872. The founder, J. Sterling Morton,

was a man of extraordinary vision, a man who looked beyond his own

time. He said, "Other holidays repose on the past; Arbor Day proposes

for the future." His purpose for Arbor Day was for every man to plant

a tree.



Trees around here can be spotty. In the portions of Cooke County where

there are rolling hills you’ll see beautiful native trees. Where

there’s grazing land you won’t. Mountain Springs has trees, Moss Lake

has trees. Lake Ray Roberts has trees, but they’re mostly in it. There

is one city in Cooke County that stands up for its trees. Muenster

carries the distinction of being a Tree City USA. Munster is among a

select group of cities that meet the qualifying standards to become a

certified Tree City USA, as does Denton.



East Texas has an abundance of forestland. Individual east Texans own

about 64% of the forestland, with Timber Investment Management

Organizations, forest industry and government owning the rest. Today’s

forests are the result of planning done 20 to 50 years ago.  Those who

reforested their property back then have seen substantial income from

timber over the past several years.



In spite of good prices in recent years, more than half of the

harvested acres belonging to east Texans have not been adequately

reforested. In the past, logging practices usually left smaller pines

to replenish the stand. Modern logging, using more complex machinery,

usually does not. As a result, many stands grow back in “brush” and

severely limit the owner’s future income potential.



According to the Texas Forest Service, there will never be a better

time than now to reforest your land. Income often begins around age 12

and can be counted on for the next 30 years at 5-10 year intervals.  A

typical rate of return for a well-managed forest is about 12%

annually. And that’s not to mention the benefits from hunting,

protecting water quality, carbon sequestration, providing habitat for

critters and poking about on your property.



If you want to plant a tree and don't have one, the Arbor Day

Foundation will send you 10 shade trees for free. All you have to do

is join their organization. They've got red oak, sugar maple, weeping

willow, bald cypress, thornless honeylocust, pin oak, river birch,

tuliptree, silver maple and poison sumac. Actually, I was kidding

about that last one. First of all, poison sumac isn't a tree and

secondly, they don't have it. They will send you the 10 free trees if

you contact them online at www.arborday.org. If you need help planting

your tree or want to know how to do the job right, do an internet

search for the Texas Forest Service, the local extension office or the

Texas Master Gardeners for more information.



We must celebrate the tree. What a great activity for a senior citizen

or a parent and child to touch the earth and plant a tree. Plant a

tree for Arbor Day or plant a tree today. If not today, then set aside

some quality time to plant a tree with someone you enjoy being with.

Plant a tree in celebration of a birthday or in honor of a parent or

loved one who is gone. Each year on that anniversary your tree will

provide a special memory.



Here's an idea that would kill two birds with one stone. Next week

would be the perfect time to give your secretary (administrative

professional) a tree.