Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-10-05
The value of Timber.

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tifc American makes thefOllowing Just '
remarks:
ave have already spoken of the at
tempts made TO substitute some other
material for fuel in place of mineral
coal. Although, according 10 Eng
fish statisticiaEs, the limit of the pro-
duction of coal to Britain can be APP
proximated, and their calculations
have engaged the attention of the
government, this country leads off tie
first successful attempt to provide for
tie possible contingency of an eX-
haustion OF the coal beds, or, rather
here, to meet the demands for cheap i
fuel. Our coal mines must last US
for an indefinite period, but owing to
local or temporary causes, it has be-
come an object to find rival to the
black diamonds which underlie our
soil.
But while the attention Of our peO-
pie is drawn to the necessity Of in
Producing a cheeper material than
coal, Is a fuel, our forests are rapidly |
wasting away In localities not pos
scssing good facilities for tranSporta- |
ton. the trees Ia the forest are ruth
lessly sacrificed, and if the waste con-
tinues il the same ratio for the next
half century as it has for the fifty
years past, there must be portions OF
our country that will be changed from
fertile farms to barren wastes. This
is 10 fancy or sensational state
ment. The grand reservoirs of our
springs, brooks and rivers are our
forests, except on the slopes Of noun
tain ranges. They conserve the
moisture deposite3 by rain and dew,
by frost and snow, and deal it out
through the arid and thirsty mouths,
giving fertility and verdure to land
that otherwise would not feed a goat.
Forests serve a grand object in the
economy Of nature. They should be
valued and protected. For this rea
son, as well as for others Of more
aesthetic character, we desire to sec
our forests preserved.
A trial lately made on the New
Haven, Hartford and Springfield rail
road, established so far as u single
trial could, the value of peat as a fueI
above that Of coal. The report OF
the run Of 26 miles and return. dem
onsTated the fact that peat gave a
greater heat, weight for weight than
the best coal, either bitumiuous on
anthracite, at a cost of not more tnan
l6 per cent. of that OF coal Here
then, is at least q partial substitute
for coal as a fuel.
The alarming inroadS made OF
late years upon our forests, the con
tinually eXacting demands for lumber,
and its adoption for thousands OF
purposes, make wood an absolute
necessity. Yet although a very large
portion OF our territorial area, less
than a hundred years ago were COW
cred by forests, it is a fact that large
bodies Of timber are now the excep-
non rather than the rule. The for
Usts in Maine, deemed at one time in
exhaustible, the woody regions of
Pennsy lvania and Western New York
and even the forests Of Canada, are
yearly decreasing in extent. The
pine is found now iu larger quantities
in the lower peninsula of Michigan
than anywhere on this Northern con.
tinent. This is question for those
VINO have calculated on the forests OF
Aiaine is inexhaustible."
The writer of the article, from
y hich the foregoing is extracted, pro
cced5 to compliment the prairie far
mers Of the West for the foresigh
and enterprise with which they have
gone to planting trees and then cX
presses the fear that all their effort
must finally fail and the country bt
utterly denuded of forests unless SOM
Yankee shall invent Il new method 0
producing heat without the consump
ton OF wood.
He compliments the prairie dwel'er
more than they deserve. A yer
small number, coparitively, are dom,
anything in the way of planting fol
ests. 1t is high time they wer
about it in earnest. It's but o littl
job to plant few acres to locust
soft maple, poplar, etc, and whe
once in growth they will prove
most profitable crop. In Wisconsi
and Minnesota, where we are withOu
coal, a moderate distribution Q
available peat deposits, our farmer
must no longer postponed the impol
tant work of planting timber III tn
hope that some new invention viii
save them the trouble.--Wis. Fal
mer.
How FRUIT GRows.-The skin of
plant, whether on a leaf or a fruit, 0
elsewhere, is highly extensive, del
cate membrane, having the power {
perspiring gently in addition to it
other work. Roots suck water on
Of the ground, also gently. Til
water when it enters into the plan
becomes sap, rises upward till
reaches the skin, when it is partl
changed and detained, but also to
great extent restored to the air b
the perspiration of the skin. Wit
what force this ascent of sap takes a
certain times is familiar to all VIII
ever witnessed the bleeding of a vinC
Let any one cut back the main ster
Of a vine in the spring, and bind dow
the wounded end with bladder or
piece Of leather, and he will soon lin
the covering to swell up, and in
few days, if not actually forced of,
would burst with the report of
pistol. One effect of this ascent i
sap is the formation of the flesh
matter of fruits and leaves, a yer
gln,tr II