The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-26
Ir,,aina or3'N,el or asSto their incaIcu.

-
binding, and fuel, or as TO their incalcu-
liable advantages in affording retreat and
shelter for man aud beast, home for
are the friends of the farmer
in the destructive war they make upon in
sects-a shade for the earth, assisting it to
retain moisture and cherish the springs
and finally, asexertinga good effect uponth the
climate and seasons, inviting rains, di-
minishing the summers heat, and softening
the rigors of winter.
More than half of all the United States
is prairie, and it is estimated that more
than ninety-fvc per cent. of the Govern
ment lands is without trees. Some one
has estimated that at the present rate OF
CONSUMPTION Of timber, in thirty years the
entire country cast of the Mississippi Will
be stripped of trees. This is an eXtrava-
CANT calculation but no man will presume
to say that our forests are incYlauStlolc !;
and there must be time, and that not
great way off, when there will be genera
scarcity of timber in the greater part Vi
that portion of the Union, suoJee'lhs
the population to serious Inconvenience
and much suffering. Beyond the MISSES
sippi. in the vast plains OF prairie i"n"'
no trees arc permitted to grow ny l"e
animal fires. The country OF the Lakes
will then become the source OF supp!
for building of houses and SHIPS, WHO
Cor f.,c;nr stone and hedges will take the
place of rails.
L i Fortunate that we have coal in almost
every section of the Union in great apuh-
dance. twill be only consolation amidst
= great misfortune for the farmer to sit by
his coal fire and look out upon his treelcSS
lands.
Virginia has boosted of the finest of TO-
rests. They have been awfully cut down.
Retween the head of tide-watcr and the
ocean there were thousands OF square
miles of the finest timber in the world.
But for series OF years they have been
invaded by the axcman, and large fleet
of vessels has been constantly engaged in
conveying off their timber to northern cities
and ship-yardS, until but meagre part OF
what once was is now to be seen. There
is especially one tree, which IS invaluable
for excellence and durability for building
material, which is fast diSappearing-that
is the yellow pine, which makes the finest
flooring and joistS in the world. 1t is a
primitive tree. We never heard OF Its
growing up in field from which the forest
had been cut. The landowner who has
that tree in his forest should value it SO
highly as to save it from the axe if possible.
The inhabitants of the prairicS are be-
ginning to plant trees, and if they can save
them from the prairie fires, which sweep
every shrub and bush in their way, the Ia
Dor will be amply rewarded. But let those
who have trees cndcavor, they and their
posterity, to avoid the necessity of planting
them. Great Britain is now calculating
her supply of coal, and fixing the time for
its exhaustion lcarfully near at hand.
Without that material for fuel and for pro
polling the machinery Of her manufacturers,
her condition will be desperate. Her poll
teal power amongst the Kingdoms Of the
earth must be greatly diminished by such
an event; for il is now chiefly maintained
by her commercial and manufacturing re-
sources.
No nation should allow itself to drift too
rapidly to that state Of necessity and en-
barrassmcnt from want Of timber and fuel
All nations must ultimately reach ii,
Therefore take care of the Forests
Woodman, spare that tree"