HONOURS FOR TREES

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 January 1923, Page 6

HONOURS FOR TREES

SOME NOTED HAITENINGS

Ten of New York State’s historical trees have Leun identified through a prize contest recently conducted by the .\ew York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University, says the “New York 'limes.” First prize was awarded for the “Scythe tree,” at Waterloo, its history dates back to 1861, when Janies Wyburn Johnson, learning that I’ort Sumter had been tired on, came in from the field bringing his scythe, which he placed in a small Balm oi Gilead tree near the house. With the final remark, “Leave the scythe in the tree until 1 return,” he enlisted and was mortally wounded in North Carolina, dying in 1864. In the meantime the six-meh sapling had begun to grow about the blade of the scythe. Second prize was awarded for Sir William Johnson’s black walnut tree at Amsterdam, planted by Sir William almost 175 years ago. Under the tree tie was made commandant of tile Militia, oi the .Mohawk Valley and led bis men to battle and utimate victory at Lake George. Third was the Witenagemot tree, planted by a board of Indian Commissioners headed by Governor Andros and his councillors, judges, and clericals, near the confluence of the Tomhannac with the Hoosac River. This council tree of peace was planted not only with a view to confirming the link of friendship between Kryn’s “Praying -Mohawks” oi the Caughuawaga village in Canada and Soquon’s lloosacs at Schaghticoke village but to strengthen the alliance of the Fort Albany militia with their River Indian scouts, whose fugitive kindred were scattered throughout New England, New York, and New France.

Under the fourth tree and also a council tree Governor Tryon, Sir William Johnson, Joseph Brant, and the Alohawk Indians of Lower Castle met in conference on 28th July, 1772. Ihe speech of Brant on that occasion has been called the masterpiece of Indian oratory. Important conferences between tiie Iroquois and Sir William, which led to the opening of the Ohio territory for white settlement, were held under this elm, where Carpenter suggested that Fort Pitt be abolished, to which Sir William agreed. The tree now stands in Johntown Cemetery. A fifth sycamore, which stands close io Washington’s headquarters at White Plains, was fifth in the list.