The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1872-11-28

UREsfEIuuB c8EAIHgf UK1I.
Professor Lapham, Of the United States
telegraph service, advanees tho theory
that the pr.irses were oses hsavily-tin
bored forests, which have been SWEEP
lsvsy By fires 70 devouring - TO have
reduced to ashes al bot the roots Of buf
falo grass. From this theory the Pro
lessor draws the deduction that prairie
soil il in every way suited to the growth
| of trees, and that the simple planting Of
forest trees - only needed to restore thu
pr.iries TO their former condition.
The impression Of the first discoverer'
of the vast prairies Of Kansas and the
country west of her was that there VA
. large, barren, inhospitab's waste Of
land within the limits ofthe UnitedStatea
not mach more habitabls or capable Of
being titled than tho Great Sahara. The
soil was bereft Of any apparent vitality
because its raiment had bsen ruthlessly
torn from it annually. The buffalo
grass, which seems TO succumb to moth
ing but civilization, was about the only
vesigs of vegetable life, and that rather
appeared cherries, and significant Of q
poor soil-a sort Of charitable Offer
ing from reluctant Nature 70 whatever
beasts might inhabit these desolats tracts'
Such impressions soon were moulded in
70 opinions which fastened themselves
upon the public mind to such an extent
that hardly any one could be found to
take . contrary posi,ion. But civilisa'
ton demanded moro land, and then no
cessity began = conflict with this soil.
It was only after long and patient labor
that the wild nature became tractabIe,
and that the soils fertility induced any
considerable number to occupy the land.
Finally, when the fame ofits productive
qualities has become worldwide, the next
problem that arises is, Is it congcnial
to the raising of forest trees" This
is now practically solv"d afirmativeIy.
The absence Of timber; at the present
time il accounted for upon reasonable
grounds, vix: That the overwhelming
and successive fires Of the past have not
only consumed the timber, body and
branch, but actually burned the very
roots ont of tho ground.
That the prairie soil readily bear" tim
Der, even after having been 20 long with
out it, is established beyond . doubt by
the experiences Of our farmers who have
been experimenting in this matter, and
by the most unmistakable evidence, the
operations of nature. In every river
bend, from which fire has been excluded
for several seasons, 6ne young groves OF
timber are soon, which will need but lit
tie care, further than to properly protect
them from fire, to make of them grand
forests. The volatile cottonwood seed,
blown about BY Kansas winds, alights
far ont on the prairie; and, 10 short or
der, there is seen . twig, then . bush, .
little after . sspling, and then . fall
dedged tres, ia whose sasde tho
" weary plowman may rest At noon
this after growth Of but three
or four years. Many farmers have paid
attention to the raising OF trees
10 this section, and their jabors and o.
forts in this behalf arc already rewarded
by visible prospects..of handsome groves
and, even in their day, forests. More
attention is being given this matter each
year, many acres being plant
ID, in numerous instances, to trees, Who'll
y.
From all the facts-we can gather con-
corning this subject, we are taught that
ire is the only natural enemy to trees in
This country. If We can limit it, 'jurisdic-
lion" We can have forests. The soil 10
the tree when properly attended
grows with wonderful rapidity, and tie
only. thing to hinder is fire. Itisa COM
mon cause, then, with No oil TO attend
more to the prevention Of 6res. Let al
be on the guard, and by constant and
earnest labor seek to check the fame
whenever and wherever It originates.
The law of this State for the prevention
Of prairie fires does not seem to b ade.
4uate, and No hope speedy legislation
in this regard may afford better and
.urer protection.
A Washington special to the Eceaiss
Post says there 10 good reason for b.
ieving that tho President will, in>'his
forthcoming message, rcccommend Con-
yress to complete the work Of the am
nc-ty by making it universal, and BY re-
'toring to citizenship those who are now
excluded BY tho fourteenth amendment