"The trees which grow in such beautiful profusion over the surface of The Planet constitute a gift to Mankind from a Higher Level of being. The Earth was not always clothed in its glorious green carpet of trees and bushes. In the early times, very few of the present species existed on The Earth, and instead the swampy places gave rise to relatively useless fern-like plants with little strength in their stems or trunks, no ability to offer fruit or nuts, and none of the curative value which presently is found in vast numbers of tree species."
"With the advent of Mankind upon The Earth, it was desired to offer the new Race of beings a supreme gift which They could use for many purposes. In other parts of the physical Universe, in what may be called genetic workshops, a wide variety of tree and bush species were developed and subsequently seeded onto the earth's surface."
"A number of prerequisites were determined in advance for the various species that would be offered to Mankind. One was to provide a construction material in the form of wood, which would have a great strength compared to its density, be easily worked, have a preferential grain direction and thus greater strength in one direction than in another, resist damage through weathering, and be pleasant to the touch."
"Almost all varieties of trees have these qualities in greater or lesser degree. Some, like the balsa, provide extremely light wood but, nonetheless, with a considerable strength compared to its density. Others, like the oak and cherry, have a very dense and hard structure in the trunk, so much so that the wood they provide comes close in strength to some of the weaker metals."
"Another quality which was desired was that of flotation, for Mankind found Himself on a planet whose surface was then 60% covered with water, and He had need of boats and barges for travel and trade."
"Yet another characteristic was that of easy combustion, so that the wood of trees could be used for fire and light to give warmth and cheer against the harsh Winters of northern latitudes."
"Finally, one of the most wondrous qualities of the trees, and one which is only imperfectly understood at present, relates to the medical properties and curative values to be found in the root, the bark, the leaves, and the fruit of these noble friends of Man. It is not by accident that the psychological symbolism recognized in dream experiences equates trees to friends, for that is truly what they are."
"The trees which have been given to Mankind for all of the above purposes and uses have not been fully appreciated for the wonderful gift which they constitute. Man has taken for granted the presence of the tree species, even though his own study of geological formation and carbonaceous deposits has clearly indicated to Him that the early epochs on The Earth had nothing which compared to the present day varieties of trees. Because He has not fully appreciated the nature of this life-form, He has unthinkingly cut down and despoiled vast regions of forest and woodland for no better reason than to give Himself walking space."
"These depredations have not gone unnoticed, and they will be returned in a very apt manner during The Tribulation Years. It is understood by science that the trees covering the dry land on This Planet have been largely responsible for producing the oxygen in the atmosphere over many millions of years. If the trees were suddenly to disappear from The Earth, the percentage of oxygen would rapidly fall from the current 20% to a much lower figure. Toward the middle of Tribulation, huge fires will rage through the earth's timberlands. Through this loss of much of the forest and woodland, Mankind will see the logical end result of his own thoughtless depredations. In a sense, Nature Itself will be continuing the job which men have started."
"With a much decreased treed area on The Planet, with periodic shrouding out of the sun's light -- necessary for the process by which the trees liberate oxygen --, and with the burning up of vast quantities of the life-giving gas in the upper atmosphere, Man will soon realize the enormity of the spoliation He has been commiting against the gift that was meant to be used judiciously for his comfort, his warmth, his shelter, his travel, his food, and his medicine."
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