The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-04-18

The earliest settlements began in the
timber region, and where the telling OF
the forest was necessity to make way
for the plow. We have now reached a
period when the demand for timber is
rapidly on the increase, and the supply
diminishing. Settlements, too, are ap-
preaching the treeless regions Of the
plains
BY what agency the western prairies
and the country beyond have been de-
nuded, it is useless to speculate. Ex-
perience has established the fact that
those regions, by protection from FIRE and
proper care, may be covered with a
growth equal to the wants Of settlers,
and may be continually renewed at all
time. In fact, it is known in places in
Ohio and Illinois that where the land is
protected from fire and other causes de-
structive of culture, there is a spon-
taneous growth of timber.
The demand, however, as stated, is
undoubtedly increasing to an enormous
extent, the States which appear to have
at present an abundance in higher lati-
tudes being those bordering on Lake Su-
perior and Lake Erie, comprising the
northern parts Of Michigan, Wisconsin
and Minnesota; yet even there the sup
ply is SO diminishing as to be q matter
of serious concern.
Projects have been suggested for plant
ing and rearing forests; and yet, while
all descriptions of timber are becoming
scarce in settled communities, and more
expensive, it is nevertheless the convic
ton that the evil may be lessened by
proper efforts in all the States east Of the
great plains, and even in those plains the
grand forests of the Cascade region will
furnish supplies, until the science of ar
Horticulture may clothe such treeless 10
calities as are not appropriated to cereal
cultivation.
A modern writer of cminence ventures
the assertion that, with proper care and
protection, even inarable territory and
sandy deserts, as in Arabia and Africa,
might in places be covered with forests,
the theory not being inconsistent with
experience or the deductions of science.
In fact, many acres in the Sciota and
Miami valleys, in Ohio, are to-day COW
cred with thrifty timber growth suffi-
cient for fuel and fencing, which thirty
years ago were entirely destitute. 1t is
stated that timber is becoming sufficient
ly abundant for domestic uses in that
State, where the land at the period of
first settlements was without trees, and in
the ordinary parlance of the times was
known as '.the barrens;'' the process of
timber cultivation being now in fact 81
lently going on in the States of the west
as well as those in middle attitudes.
The process of fostering this interest
might be encouraged and advanced by 50
amending the homestead law as to re-
quire settlers in localities where there is
a scarcity of timber to plant on each
homestead tract a few hundred trees, as
part of n system of cultivation necessary
to complete the settlers title, to be Shown
in proving up the claims at the end of the
five years settlement now enacted by
law and further, by making it obliga-
tory upon United States surveyors to
plant midway between each pit and
trench the seeds and trees adapted to the
climate, the fact of planting and kind of
seed to appear in the field of sur
vey, the duty to be enforced under pen
atty Of forfeiture of part of the money
agreed to be paid under the surveying
contract. In our instructions to survey
ors general and deputies this proceeding
was recommended, but could not be en-
forced in the absence of legal stipula-
tions, and has accordingly fallen into
disuse.
This system might further be extended
by ordering the experiment at military
posts and Indian agencies, requiring a
number of acres to be enclosed and
planted, or at least by stipulations that q
limited area at such places shall be so
protected as to leave it to the sponta-
neous action of nature. Facts could in
this way be accumulated which might
develop a general system, and
lead to advantae eous results in connec-
ton with this interesting and important
subject.
The method Of planting ard rearing
trees is reduced to a science, the peculi-
arities of localities best adapted to diff
ferent species having been ascertained.
1t is known that the pine and fir tribe
are generally grown on sandy, shallow
surface soil !; other trees are natives Of
swamps; while the oak, hickory, chest
nut, and others of harder and more solid
growth, exist in natural and better soils
suited to their several peculiarities.
Such is the case with wild fruit trees,
which have been changed into improved
fruit bearing orchards through the teach
ings of vegetable anotomy and physiolo-
gy. The homestead settlers, or other
parties upon whom the legislative de-
partment may lay its injunctions, can
select seed or young growth best adapted
to the soil in hand, little labor being re-
quired for forest or ornamental trees
which naturally grow in wild and unculti-
waited territory. The variety of soils ex-
isting in the public lands affords ample
opportunities for encouraging this cul-
ture, and, under the requirements of law
in the interests contemplated, may lead
to valuable results in causing the product
of the cultivated forest to make good the
deficiency created by the rapid advance
of settlements and necessary destruction
of the forests of the wilderness; also
supplying timber wants in treeless terri
tories Land Office Report.