by The Maine Forest Service, 2008
Over the past 100 years, the Maine Forest Service has published 14 editions of a book (originally a booklet) called The Forest Trees of Maine. To celebrate the centenary, the newest edition has been beautifully spruced up. Between the descriptions of 78 tree and shrub species are photos of logging in the old days
Some of days considerably more than 100 years ago. Interestingly, there is snow on the ground in almost all of the historic photos – one of the many differences between logging back then and logging practices today. Although horses consume fuel year round, they were busy at other jobs in the off season, while modern skidders, although they consume no fuel when parked, have little value without a hitch of logs rattling along behind. Photos of logging today can be taken just about year-round.
It seems that you can learn lots about how to make a very nice tree book after 14 tries. This edition has a key to trees in winter and a key to trees in summer, plus a helpful page called “How to use the keys.” There is a glossary and a couple of pages of outlines showing typical leaf shapes and leaf structures.
Most of the tree species have a two-page spread, with photos of the leaves, bark, flowers, fruits, buds, and, sometimes, the whole tree. If you are fairly familiar with trees of our region, you will still be impressed by the photographs. And if sorting out all the maples has been embarrassingly difficult, you will be emboldened by the pages that clearly describe the notable features of each species. Similar treatment is given to the pines, oaks, aspens, and the cherries and plums.
I also appreciate the occasional remarks, such as: “when cut with a knife, Eastern hemlock bark will show a purple color.”
I have so many tree books already that I initially ignored this one, leaving it semi-submerged in a dusty pile. But when I took it for a walk with some of my neighbors, it endeared itself to me in the course of an hour. Lightweight, at only about 175 pages, it is easy to carry, and the photographs are both useful and pretty.
You can obtain a copy by calling (207) 287-2791, $15 each. Not available through our online book retailers, but available in bookstores around Maine.