Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-24
FARM AND GARDES.
THE DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS

quietude TO the far seeing statesman as
well as to the man of science. That
forests exert controlling influence upon
the climate is fact too well known to
admit of controversy, and it is possible
that many of the countries of the old
world, that were once the theatres of busy
life, have been rendered almost uninhabit-
able by the destruction of their forests.
Historians tell us that the land of Ca
naan in the reign of David supported On
the very lowest calculation a population
of five millions. Now we know that the
extent of territory comprised in Pales-
tine never exceeded, at any one time,
more than 1900 square miles, SO that it
must have supported population of more
than 400 to the square mile, which is
three times greater than that of the
most densely populated States in the United
States. Nothing can give US better idea
of the original fertility of the soil than
: the fact that this numerous population
derived their support almost exclusively
from the pursuits of agriculture Ships
were occasionally sent to Ophir and TO
Tyre on trading expeditions, but there
was no co mmerce in the modern sense of
the term and no manufactures. A few
plain artisans, plying their vacations fof
a pittance day, and few sailors, were
the sum total of the population distracted
from agricultural pursuits. And yet, to-
day the population of Palestine does not
exceed 100000, or twenty five to the
square mile. Now the severity and in
justice of the government could not have
caused this depopulation. Climatic
changes, induced by the almost total de-
struction of the timber, have rendered all
the hill country unproductive. There are
now no forests in Palestine. Nothing but
shrubs and fruit trees are to be seen.
Even the far-famed cedars of Lebanon
have almost disappeared. Only few
here and there may be observed, standing
as monuments of their former glory. The
hills of Judea that once were a perennial
verduTe, are now masses Of barren rock,
and the brooks, famous in Scripture and
IN song, are nothing more than wet
weather branches. The source of fertility
has been destroyed by annihlla!ing all the
agences for cooling and Condensing the
vapor which ascends from the ocean.
Droughts are now the general Tule-nOt
the exception. When rains have once
begun, however, they continue; the same
causes which produce dry weather operate
to prolong the wet season when once il
begins. Had the slopes and hills been
kept covered with forests the population
of Palestine would never have fallen
from 1000, 900 to 800, 900. BayaTd Tay-
lor tells us that he saw on the upper Nile
large regions of country once supporting
dense population, now entirely barren;
and throughout the wide expanse scarcely
tree can be seen. Above all other coun-
tries it is the land Of ruins
The people of the United States may
be drifting on the same road of destruc-
ton. More than 10, 600, 600 acres yearly
are being cleared up. There are bat few
great reserves of timber left, while the
demand for it is increasing yearly. Con-
gress passed an act in 1917 for the pres
ervGtion of live oak and cedar for naval
purposes on all the public lands. The
Supreme Court in United States vs..
Briggs, Howard, construed the statute
as authorizing The protection of timber |
on all public lands. With this Single ex-
ception, we know of no legislation res
training the destruction of forests. When
the good Of the whole people is involved, |
as in this case, it is the duty and the
right of the government to place some
limit upon this wanton destruction, and
70 offer such reward as may encourage |
etAc planting and rearing of forests in
the treeless regions of the West. Even ia |
the old States fair income might be de- |
rived from much land that is now value |
less, by planting it in trees A twOfold |
good would be accomplished; the land
would be fortified and supply,,of timber !
grown for a future generation, 10 say
nothing of the equable climate which |
such course would probably induce.
In England, where the laws of primo
geniture are in force, the protection of
the trees on an estate is considered al |
most filisl duty. The landed estates |
held for the most part by the nobility,
whose influence was until recently pro- |
portioned to the extent of their domains,
are priced more than any other species Of |
property; and the denuding of the land of |
timber is the less necessary on account Of |
the superabundance Of coal fields, which |
supply all the fuel consumed in the king |
dom. Tie Duke of Norfolk has q park |
that is fifteen miles in circuit, and the |
Marquis of EsdaIbsne can ride hundred |
miles in q straight line through parks and |
torests and arabic lands. Tenants often
live TO an old sge on thess estates without |
ever having seen tree fclled. More
timber is cut down in The United States in
one year than in a half century in Eng
land
We trust the farmers in many parts of
our State will begin to cconomize in the
use of timber. Let their ingenuity be
taxed for the invention Of a substitute
for our present system Of fencing-Iess
costly and more durable. Wherever it is
possible, and il can be had at reasonable
rates, let coal he used as fuel. At ff-