Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-06-11

under tree knows how little Of ii reaches
the ground and what great consumer of
water trees are. Who in a ran-storm ever
saw tho water running through the woods
as il runs in the open fields? l have no
doubt If the banks Of the Mississippi and
its tributaries were even partially planted
with groves of trees no overflow would ev-
err take place. We all know that the con-
trary is quite true, aud hat the volume of
water In stream may he greatly dimin-
ished by cutting away the forests along its
banks. In Germany, the Elbe lost Is per
cent Of its flow in consequence Of cutting
away the trees and exposing the water 10
the hot sun aud consequent evaporation.
The Island Of Santa Cruz, in the West In
dies, which twenty years ago was Il garden
of fertility, is now dcsert-,he result of
telling its forests. There are good ship
ping streams in Europe that have Deen rcr-
dered uunaviGable by cutting down the
trees along their banks and about their
bead-waters. Napoleon, as early as 1908,
for this reason forbid the cutting of timber
on the Rhine.
That we have wantonly and shamerolly
destroyed our forests, l think, must now
be evident to every thinking man. We
cannot undo the past, but We may still
provide for tho future If We set about il in
earnest and with. sense. What, then,
should he done? Let every man remcm-
Der when lie fels tree thicker than his
body that he does an act which he can new
or undo and destroys that which in his
short life lie can never replace. Farmers
should plant more hedges, and avoid as far
as possible the cutting of youn. timber for
rails. Division fences between farms ought
always TO be made of hedges. Strong herd
laws should he passed in the States, and
stock not allowed TO run at large, thus do
ing away with the necessity for 50 many
fences. \ million of dead capital in many
Ofthe States might thus be utilized and
brought into use for other purposes. States
should make appropriations and foster the
replanting of forests. Congress should en-
act strong laws for the protection of Tim
Der on the public domain, and we should
have a commissioner of forestry. Over
seers of roads should be made TO plant trees
along the highways al the public expense.
Railways should be compelled by law TO
plant trees along the whole of their lines
on either side of the track. We cannot in
one or even two generations undo all the
damage that has been done, but by begin
ming at once we may still be able TO avert a
timber famine in the United States. Let
Congress, al its next session, take Up the
question Of forest saving, appoint an in
telligent committee, and let them send
for James r. Allen Of Nebraska, Mr..
Hughitt, of Iowa, Sterling Morton, OF Hi
nois, and some other practical tree-srUw-
ers who, If The committee don't know, will
be able TO tell them not only how to save
such OF our forests as remain, but how tC
replace those destroyed.
1t is not so difficult, after all, to grow
trees, but upon this subject dare not Gu
ter lest should consume too much space
and weary the reader. The theories | have
advanced are not new in the West, where
on the treeless prairies, we feel constantly
the want of timber. In this Stale, (Ne.
raska), they have an admirable custom
day called arhor day is set apart especial
ly for the planting Of young tree, and thC
farmer who sets out the greatest number
receives from the Stale a handsome premi
um in money. 1t has resulted in the plant
ing of millions of young trees annually.
JAMES S. BRIsBIN,
limited States Army