Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-07-26
Forest Culture.

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committee on forest culture made
tho following report. 1t is of in.
terest, as verifying the experience
of many practical men, who have
given this subject much study.
The forests of the continent are
rapidly passing away. Large dis.
tricts in the Atlantic States are
already stripped of their most valu-
able timber. In less than twenty.
FIVE years the accessible forests in
the region of the great lakes, on the
upper waters of the Mississippi, and
in the British Possessions adjacent,
will be exhausted. The industrial
progress of the Southern States is
consuming the trees, both deciduous
and evergreen, at an accelerated
rate. In the Rocky Mountain
regions (wherc the hard woods are
unknown) the pines, srruces and
cedars are disappearing before the
farmer, the miner, the architect, and
the railroad builder. On the Pacific
coast, the immense home demand,
ever increasing, together with the
expectation to England, France,
Australia, China, Japan, Souti.
America, Mexico and the Pacific
Islands, foretell the exhaustion of
the California timber trees in twenty
years; and those available in Oregon
and regions northward, within q
comparatively brief period.
The demand for the products of
the forest constantly increases. The
supply constantly, and in growing
ratio, diminishes, and prices con-
stantly augment. The causes now
in operation, and daily gaining
strength, can have but one effect,
that Of exhausting all the available
sources of supply within the lives
of persons now in existence.
This appalling prospect, the-view
of which becomes more vivid the
more it is studied, should arouse
the farmers, land owners, and lcgis-
lators. 1t is vital to the future
welfare of our people that the re-
production of our forests should at
once begin, not on small scale or
in few localities, but in large
measures and co-extensive 18th our
settlements. A broad statesman
ship, in the National and State
Legislature, should at once take up
the subject, and deal with it year,
by year until the great work shall
be adequately begun.
The few and hesitating expert
ments in isolated localities, which
have been made in the growing of
forest trees, have no significance SO
far as the general supply of future
wants is concerned. But they are
Of inestimablc value, in so far as
they teach the ease and compare
tive rapidity with which forest
trees, useful to the farm, to the work
shop and to the railroad, may be
produced; and in so far rs they
show that the agricultural men of
the country have already Tin
advance of the men in high politi-
cal life) appreciated the necessities
of the present and the future. They
are also of value in demonstrating
that, however remote the profits Of
forest culture may have been here
tofore considered, it is yet true that
the artificial plantation may in a
very few years, by judicious plant
ing at first, be made to yield current
returns equal to the cost of planting
and care.
Notifications and ameliorations
of climate, due to the destruction or
the extension of forests, have begun
to enlist serious consideration.
There can be no doubt of the benc-
fetal influence of forest areas equal
in aggregate to onc-third or one
fourth Of the entire area of any ex-
tensive region. But, however i'm
portant climatic effects may be in
this connection-however desirable
it may be that the crops and animal
life of the farm should enjoy the
benefits of forest influences and
shelter, the need of extensive forest
planting is imperative enough
without taking into consideration
its effect on atmospheric movements
temperature, or rainfall. The store,
the dwelling, the wharf, the ware
house-all these, and more, demand
action; demand it in the name of
domestic life, Of farm economy, of
commerce, Of all the arts of our
civilization. What we shall save
i'll climate by preserving forest
areas, or gain by their extension,
is just so much to be enjoyed in ad-
dition to other compcnsations. The
less violent sweep of the winds in
Illinois, as compared with forty or
fifty years ago, due to the obstruc-
ton caused by buildings, hedges,
fences, orchards, artificial groves,
and wind breaks on her prairies,
speak to the understanding of plain
men more forcibly than any langu-
age we could use.
There may be those who regard
forest planting as work ofmystery
and grandeur, beyond the reach of
the common farmer. This is mis-
taken view. Nearly all the most
important dcciduous trees may be
grown from seed rs readily as Indian
corn. Of many species the seed
may be sown broadcast and har-
rowcd in, if the planter prefers to
use the Seed lavishly rather than
give more care. The seeds ofmany
trees may be planted either in the
Fall or Spring, as may be most
convenient. Some of the softer
wooded trees grow from cuttings as
readily as the grape; and with most
deciduous trees, the seeds or cut
tings may, if desired, be at once
planted where the trees are to stand.
Nor need the most unlettered farmer
deny himself the pleasure and profit
of the conifers and evergreens. The
plants, furnished at prices which
are INSIGNIFICANT in comnarison with