Crosby High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Waterbury, CT)

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BLUE AND WHITE What do we plant when we plant the tree? We plant the houses for you and me, We plant the rafters, the shingles, the floors, We plant the studding, the lath, the doors, The beams, the siding, all parts that be, We plant the house when we plant the tree. What do we plant when we plant the tree? A thousand things that we daily see, We plant the spire that outtowers the crag, We plant the staff for our country's flag, We plant the shade, from the hot sun free, We plant all these when we plant the tree. Although the purpose of forestry is very definite, namely, to care for forests and make the most of their products, the problem of forestry presents a myriad of complications. While it seeks to prevent the present generation from despoiling the future of that which is right, it must avoid the opposite error of saving for the future at the expense of present welfare. That is, it is not merely a question of forest preservation. The government of the country could not simply decree that no trees were to be cut down, and thereby have the solution of the entire problem, for trees must be cut continually to supply imperative needs. But there should be other forests growing up to supplant those being cut. The work of the forestry service, therefore, includes the pre- servation of forests, the reforestation of areas which have been cut, and the planting of regions which have, before, been treeless. The necessity of conservation has become apparent through the increased use of substitutes for lumber. In this age cement, stone, steel and glass bricks are used extensively in the construction of houses. Today we dedicate this tree in the name of the Class of 1938-trusting that it may always be a symbol of the growth we hope for. Inseparable in our minds is the desire to honor in this dedication, the loving memory of jimmy Arnold, who, until so short a time ago, actively participated in our little citizenry. With these two symbols-this tree's promise of growth, and Jimmy's example of high-hearted endeavor, we humbly dedicate our lives to the un- compromising future. 19-CROSBY-38

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fa- BLUE AND WHITE '22 Tree Oration THE NEED OF CONSERVATION by JOSEPH T. NOLAN When our forefathers settled along the Atlantic seaboard they found themselves confronted with impregnable forests that seemed to extend end- lessly toward the west. Forced by the need of cleared land upon which to grow crops, the settlers, malignantly lacking in a sense of proportion attacked the forests with fire and axe. This practice continued, especially as our country became more and more densely populated. Lofty pines which formerly revelled in all their pristine splendor disappeared rapidly. Despite this prodigal destruction of our trees, there have always been some people who mourned the exodus of the virgin forests. The settlers of the Plymouth colony recognized the necessity of trees to their daily life, and attempted the first forestry legislation in America. In spite of this noble effort, the waste mounted to appalling proportions, and only occasional spasmodic laws were passed to prevent it. Not until 1891 did the country adopt anything like a national policy to stem the sequence of forest wastes. Since the days of Gifford Pinchot during Theodore Roosevelt's administration, however, con- servation and reforestation have become relevant issues. The executive leaders of the present administration fully realize the necessity of conservation and have established various governmental branches such as the Citizens Conservation Corp more generally referred to as the C.C.C. You doubtless have heard the following verses by Henry Abbey which endeavor to portray the usefulness and value of trees: What do we plant when we plant the tree? We plant the ships which will cross the sea, We plant the mast to carry the sails, We plant the planks to withstand the gales, The keel, the keelson, the beam, the knee, We plant the ship when we plant the tree. 19-CROSBY-38

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431- BL UE AND WH ITE 'Q' Officers GEORGE R. WOODS PI'9J'id?1Zf r 33 , JL 55 I 9? rdf EMILIE FITZPATRICK Vice'P1'efide12l 19- CROSBY- 38