Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-01-10
THE CULTIVATION OF FOREST TREES.


The cultivation of forest trees in Ameri-
ca is fast becoming question of general
interest and importance. In Europe ne
cessity compelled governments years ago
to offer special inducements for the culti-
walton of forests, and England and Scot
land to-day boast Of thousands of acres of
pines, oaks and larches. Germany at great
expense, has imported from California
seeds of the famous red wood, and has
growing on her soil to-day acres of forests,
cultivated by officers specially trained in
their department. France, Russia and
Austria have been encouraging the same
enterprise.
The subject attracts attention in the
United States not only because in certain
sections of the country timber is becoming
scarce, but also for the influence of forests
upon the climate and healthfulness of the
country. Thus, on the prairies of some of
the Western States where forest cultiva-
ton has been encouraged by legislation,
both for the timber and as a protection
against fierce winds, it has been demon
strated that great changes in the climate
and the capabilities of the country have re-
suited thereby. Plains that had beendestitute
of all verdurc, by the building OF villages
and the cultivation of forests have become
tillable, and beds of rivers dry nearly all
the year, become sparkling with running
streams.
We see it stated that the city of Denver
was built upon one of these parched plains
and that now n running stream passes
through it which it has been found neces-
sary to bridge. The great Salt Lake is now
some seven feet higher than it was ten
years ago. For these results the cultiva-
ton of forests has been greatly encouraged
in the West, so that it is now officially
stated that one hundred and fifty millions
of forest trees are annually planted in the
prairie States.
The rapid denudation of some of the
heavier timber regions by the enterpris-
ing lumbermen has alarmed many think
ing persons and caused much discussion as
to the policy of beginning at once to en- =
courage not only the cultivation of forest
trees, but to restrain, as far as practicable,
the great waste of valuable timber an
nually taking place. 1t has been estimat-
ed that there is annually cut and shipped
from the upper peninsula of Michigan
and the State of Wisconsin, near two bill
| lion feet of timber. To supply this guam
| tity of lumber, two hundred thousand
acres of forests are cut down every year.
| Taking the number of trees annually
planted in the West, they would cover
| but one hundred and fifty thousand acres,
making the area annually planted fifty
| thousand acre less than the area denuded
in the single district herein before named.
| There is, of course, millions of acres OF
| timber land not vet touched, but the fig
| ures, so far as compiled, give sufficient
grounds upon which to base timely legis-
| lation for the encouragement of this great
| and as yet new department Of agriculture.
In this connection it is well enough to
suggest what has seemed to us important
| to the South, and that is whether or not
\ the gradual change going on in the char
| acter of our forests will not in due time
make radical changes in our soil. 1t is 9
| fact well known, we suppose, that all
| through the South wherever the pine for
ests are cut down, OAK forests spring up in
| their place. 1t has seemed to us that from
! these oak forests the annual contributions
| of vegetable matter to the soil must in
time make the changes above suggested
one in its final results to affect materially
| the character of our agriculture.