The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-02-06
Tree.P1anting Craftsmanship.

All European governments have given
much attention to forest-tree planting
1t is one of those subjects which prop
erly belong to government. As rule,
tree-planting brings no immediate re-
turn, and rarely will individuals be so
| public spirited as to plant for posterity.
In those countries where land is entailed
| where it descends to ones family from
| generation to generation-forestsa are
| sometimes planted as q sort of life
insurance !; and in many cases it has
been found that a plantation of trees
has produced a much better revenue to
ones children than any investment one
| could make. But here, where we not
only seldom calculate on keeping our
land for our children-nay, scarcely
believe we shall keep it long ourselves
-tree-planting to any extent is out of
| the question.
No doubt the time will come when
even very young plantation will be
like railroad stocks, which advance in
value according as they approach a div
idend, and thus Will always bring some
thing to their owner in case of a sale.
Thus, if tree be ten years old, and
within another ten of being in a condi-
ton fit for timber, it would bring the
owner of the farm containing such O
plantation much more than one but a
year or two old. But as a general rule
farmers do not look so far ahead. They
cannot afford to give so long a credit
They trust nature for one season. They
lend seed, and labor to get the land
ready for the seed, and also furnish the
capital to look after the growing crop
and if principal and interest are not
aoN1 L
the mutterings of dissatisfaction are
plainly heard. Forest culture, which |
In any event takes several years to pro- |
duce any return, is too slow. No mat
ter how great may lie the prospective |
profit, the theory that a bird in the |
hand is worth two in the bush prevails, |
and tree-planting gets the go-by.
But no country can get along without |
timber. We may talk of our iron, our
coal, or any of our minerals, bnt with
out timber none of them would be worth
looking at. We could not work our mines
without wood wood supports the rail
road track and the telegraph wire. We
could better do without all these than
without wood. An abundance of wood,
and the cheapening of wood, are sub
jects worthy of the best thoughts of
those who have the good of mankind at
heart.
But as individuals, for reasons given,
cannot be expected to go extensively
into forest-tree culture, and as the well
fare of q nation SO much depends on
the price of the timber its people uses,
it would seem to be matter especially
for COVE: nments to foster. If European
governments, with so many more in
ducements to individuals to plant,
give so much attention to it, surely
here, where individuals can accomplish
little, governments ought to do more.
Hitherto we have had more timber
than we needed. 1t was Il drug. The
one who could invent good plan to get
rid of it the easiest was the favored !
one, But that time is gone. The
high price for lumber now tells another !
story. Cheap lumber to America is
what the cry Of cheap bread is to many !
Of the peoples of Europe; and the
statesman who shall give attention to I
this matter, and make the field espe-
oially bis own, will reap as much fame,
and receive as many blessings, as those
who have worked in the great field o.
union, annexation, protection,
or any of the good works
which have served to develop great j
minds for the admiration of a grateful
country,