The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-04-11
Tree.Planting Agar.

MIR. Il. &. NORTHROF, Secretary of
the State Board of Education of Con-
nccticut, whose good service in the
cause Of tree-culture in New England
has received frequent recognition in the
columns of the Evening Post, visited
Europe last summer for the purpose of
studying forestry in the quarters where
that science has the most attention.
Carrying with him letters from the
Governor of Connecticut and the
Federal Secretary of State, he had the
best opportunities for observation and
inquiry, and the practical results of his
tour are summed up in a paper on
Economic Tree Planting, which will
form a part of the report of the Secre-
tary of the Connecticut State Board of
Agriculture for the current year.
From this paper it appears that Ger
many stands first among the Continent
al Nations in the literature of forestry,
1915 volumes on this subject having
been published in that country before
the year 1912, and an average of one
hundred works being the yearly in
crease in later times; Spain probably
comes next in rank, with her 1,l26
volumes; and the once sandy plains
south of Berlin, now fertile and bloom
ing, and the check given to the ravages
of the waves on tho Biscayan Coast,
tell their own story of the advantage
accrulng to these two countries from
their painstaking study Of arbori-cult-
ure. Even among the Russians, Il peo-
pie to whom we are not accustomed to
look for advanced ideas the science Is
making rapid strides, its work being
the reclamation of vast steppcs and re-
sistance to the encroachments of the
inland seas. Every one familiar with
the laws of England knows what strict
provisions guard her grand old trees
from destruction; and it would be we'll
if. with the introduction of other good
institutions from the mother country,
we had put into the American statute
books some of these regulations, found
ing them, not on the rights of success
sion to real property. but on decent
forecast for the public welfare.
The question of the influence of it's
forests on the rainfall of any given dis
trict is still mooted among men of
science; but MIR. Northrop quotes the
statements of persons who have re-
peatedly observed with their own eyes
the coincidence of the removal of for
ests with the drying up of springs and
rivers, in India and in other parts of
the world where prolonged droughts
have ended in disaster. Moreover,
whatever may be said as to the positive
effect of tree-tops on passing clouds, we
believe it is not denied that the rains
having once descended and watered the
earth, a forest belt puts perceptible
check upon evaporation by winds and
sun.
Some very interesting facts are given
in the paper before us concerning the
varieties of trees which ought to be
planted when certain ends are in view.
The durability of the European larch.
for example, is attested by its use in
Venice, where, in the form of piles i'm
mersed in water, it has supported for
centuries some of the most imposing
masses of architecture that meet the
travellers eye. Mr.. Northrop also
treats his subject practically by sug-
costing experiments, which might be
made at little expense of money,
time and patience in his own State and
in others where large tracts of naked
ground have become parched and
sterile. We commend his remarks to
the earnest attention of all persons who
have the future material prosperity of
our country at hearth Y Eve7si,sq
Post.