Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-09-20
ABOUT TREE PLANTING.

The following article concerning tree
planting, we copy from late issue of the
Daily Evening Post:
We are pleased to notice that the South
ern Pacific railroad corporation are making
preparations for planting out eucalypti
along the line of their road in southern
California Major E. Locke, of Pasadena,
is raising 25O,000 of these useful trees to be
set out as above stated. Tue wisdom of
this course Is selfevident. The railroad
corporation will in time grow sufficient
timber for renewals and construction, and
by having it on the spot when wanted will
economic time and save carriage. But
apart from this strictly busiaess feature the
planting of so many trees must have de-
cidcd influence on the climate. Trees at
tract moisture-some kinds more than
Others-as, for example, the pine, which
has been proved to be best for this purpose.
But the Australian blue gum is quick
growing tree, and is valuable for its timber
and the excellent shelter it affords. 1t is
however, quite a glutton; and monopolizes
the soil in which it is planted in considera-
BILE numbers. But to many Of these trees
cannot be grown in the southern sections of
the state, where live timber is scarce.
Indeed, much of the drought from which
sections of California suffer is traceable to
the wholesale destruction of trees. And
the work of forest demolition goes on apace,
the perfection of centuries of growth being
recklessly destroyed, without thought Of
the present or prospective injury inflicted
enjoy seasonable showers simply because
they are wooded. Along the foothills and
on the wooded ranges and ravines the rain
fall is much greater than on the plains,
This is equally true of all counties. Scien-
tifc men in Europe have been greatly
struck by the gradual decrease of water in
the river and springs during the present
century, The average decrease in the Elbe
within the past fifty years has been seven
teen inches; in the Rhine the average
decrease has been twenty. four inches; in
the Vistula, twenty.six inches and in the
Oder, eighteen inches. The assigned cause
is a decrease in atmospheric moisture by
the constant devastation of forests. Trees
attract moisture from the atmosphere and
convey it to the soil, and thence to the
sources of streams, but when forests are de-
stroyed atmospheric moisture is not con-
densed, springs and rivulets dry up, and
great rivers as We have seen, discharge a
much reduced volume of water. The effect
Of this upon climate and agriculture cannot
be over estimated. But the waste of forests
may be in measure repaired by general
and systematic planting of shade trees for
ornament and lumber, as the Southern Pa
ci6c railroad corporation propose doing.
The Central Pacific railroad company have
set out some 10000 eucalypti along their
track, and private individuals have done
something in the same direction, but much
remains yet to be DONE Other countries
have taken active measures in the the di-
rection also. The forestry department Of
the Indian government is changing the eli
mate and industrial condition of Hindostan
by means Of arboriculture; the rows Of
mulberry planted along the line of the Suez
canal have so modified the climate o.
that part of Egypt that showers are FIRE
auent, and verdure go abounds that Eng
lish capitalists propose to bring large area,
under cultivation by the same means. The
Australian colonies have likewise takel
measures to plant trees on their arid plains
and New Zealand, q remarkable we'll wood
ed and watered cuuntry, has created de-
partment of forestry to repair the waste
caused by lumbermen and bush fires. II
the eastern states, along the valley of tn
Mississippi, and in the gulf states as well
public attention is directed to this vita
question, Minnesota. however, takes tn
lead in arboriculture in this country, AM
has incorporated it into its public schoo
system. Here is an extract from an ex
change bearing upon the matter in hand
which we commend to the attention 9
school trustees throughout California a
worthy of imitation "On the 29th ult
which was class.tree planting day At th
Normal school at ST. Cloud, Minnesota, tn
five classes, with the model department, st
out in the ground about eighty trees boz
elder, elm and maple. Some of the youn
ladies entered into the work with el