Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-03-26

PRESERVATION OF FoREsTs-Whrre WI
coming generations got their supplies of timber?
How they will lament the bleak and naked hills,
and cry ont against us for desrong them OF
their chief beauty, and leaving behind us few
or no traces Of our forest scenery, except in the
painted landscapes in our par!orS If our
forests are so valuable now for timber and fuel,
will they not be still more so to the next gen
Grafton Then why strip them off 80 remor>e
lessy? Rather let them be husbandcd Let
them be thnned out, not utterly demolished
A careful calculation show that sixty thousand
acres of pine wood are cut every year in
New York, and that at this rate, in the year
1875, these trees will have disappeared from
this part Of the country; 1t is said also, that
" the produce OF titled lands carried to the
tide water By the Erie Canal, in one year
amounted to $8,l70,0O0 worth of property :;
that of farm stock for the same year is given
at $3, 230, 600 that Of the forest, in lumber,
slaves, &c, at $4,770, 900 Thus the forest
yield more than the stock and more than half
as much as the farm lands" Shall we then ut
tCrly and forever exhaust this source of com
fort and wealth ? Let us beware, lest We XII
the goose which lays such golden eggs ?
Forest trees should be preserved also, for
their beneficial influence upon the climate 1t
IS universally conceded that the winters Of the
northern states are colder than they we're thir-
ty and forty years ago and that the weather
generally is more windy, fuctuating and sa-
greeable. We have greater extremes of heat
and cold, and severer droughts Peaches once
grew IN abundance throughout Central New
York; now tits almost impossible to raise them
The eat and some othcr.rrops are more I'M
certain. These things are aScrihabIc, not 20
much TO any deterioration of the SOL as to tn,
destruction of our forests Formerly, our
farms had belts of wood land, which broke thu
force of the winter and spring winds our hill
tops were covered with battal;ons of tree,
which defend the slopes and wales. The SNOW
was not blown off from the tender grain crop.
in winter, nor were the fields laid bIre to the
blghting winds Of cary slrng.
One of the greatest drawI ks to farm lif,
on the western prdries is the absence Of forest
trees. Wood for lumber and fuel is scarce
honse and lands are exposed to the rake ri
merciless winds in winter and spring Almos;
every mail brings account of extreme suff rim
at the west, on the open praricS To max
those laads n paradise for the farmer, tncy
need moth ng so mGcL as the kindly shelter o
wood lands
In conclusion, we earn silly plead with the
farmer for more consitlerate nse Of his wood
Remove old trees, but touch the Young with
sparing hand. Clear up yonr valleys but do
not strip bare the hill tops Leave grou,
aud single trees here and there III your pas
tareS, both for the comfort Of yonr h0ckS and
herds, and for the beauty Of the landscape
Plant belts along the north and west lines of
your grainfalas and shelter yonr houses. For
the purposes of shelter evergreens are best :;
but mnsIc with these such rapid growing trees
as the arch, scarlet fowered maple Dutch elm
Eastwood and yellow locust. The time is com
ing when they who exert themselves to save the
emnant of our noble woodlands, and who
plant trees for the benefit of posterity, will be
considered wise men and public benefaetors-
Americ1n AgrieuLturist.