How Trees Die

June 29, 2009
Horticultural scientist Gillman (The Truth About Organic Gardening) examines the astounding longevity of trees. Beginning with a provocative opener comparing the fate of cows raised for meat to the life-span of trees cut down to make paper for books, Gillman delineates the incursions made by expanding development, commercial tree farms, air pollution and pests (encouraging sophisticated methods for controlling pests, like "a careful analysis of their sex life," to impede reproduction). Analyzing the life cycle of trees-their greatest vulnerability as juveniles, their hardy reproductive phase, the deceleration of growth as the distance from root to treetop increases-Gillman also highlights some amazing specimens, including the oldest tree alive today, a 9,500 year-old Norwegian oak. Gillman takes an interesting survey of trees grown from seeds and those grown commercially from shoots, grafts, cuttings, etc.; he also looks at "meristems," which play the same role in plants as stem cells do in animals (plants that are cloned, like the sheep Dolly, appear to die from premature aging). Written for the lay reader, this interesting scientific tour should capture the imagination of casual naturalists.

July 15, 2009
Trees hurt, too; horticulture professor Gillman (Univ. of Minnesota) discusses the many ways, through inattention or too much attention, we do them harm. Gillman writes this book in much the same vein as his two previous efforts ("The Truth About Organic Gardening; The Truth About Garden Remedies"), aiming at a lay readership and writing in a folksy, genial style. His personal recollectionsnot so much of the aesthetic pleasures of trees but more on those that make for good climbinglend a surprising charm to what could, after all, be a pessimistic book. The author sprinkles the text with vignettes that follow the typical life span of a tree in an undisturbed forest, a managed forest, an orchard, and a backyard. These little tales tend to dash the cherished notion of planting a tree and growing old with itnot with the brevity of life built into grafted stock, not with the virulence of foreign diseases and pests, and not with our own boundless ignorance. VERDICT In a short space, Gillman gives his readers a historical understanding of tree pathology, contemporary conditions, and future prospects. Gardeners and tree fanciers will want to check this one out.Robert Eagan, Windsor P.L., Ont.

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.