From trees to Yeats – Kudos to PRog and Bud – Occurs to me some of ya’ll might try GWS Trow’s THE HARVARD BLACK ROCK FORREST – a 1984 New Yorker piece – republished by University of Iowa Press, 2004. 109 pp. Sightline Books: The Iowa Series in Literary Nonfiction;. $14.95 paper. From a short review…

George Trow’s essay is reprinted here as part of the Iowa Series of Literary Nonfiction, and most certainly because of the profound influence it must have had on contemporary decision makers charged with the stewardship of a neglected legacy. When first published, it inspired the permanent protection of the three-thousand-acre forest bequeathed to Harvard in 1949. There is a richness in this writing that comes from weaving threads of science—of research and teaching—with threads from the history of resource exploitation, and even the threads of university governance—of gifts made and legacies honored. Every student of the history of conservation should read it. Twice.

Apologzie for cliche-density above but he’s right re re-reading Trow’s FOREST. And I say that as a city-man who had no deep interest in “the hsitory of conservation” – PS Reviewer fails to underscore that Trow “inspired” Harvard U to live up to the terms of the original bequest by (gently) excoriating the Pres of the U. who was considering selling the Forest (which is about 30 miles from NYC)…