The Indiana State sentinel., 1879-05-07
FOREST CULTURE.
How the European Nations Have Pro.
, flied by Preserving Their
Trees.
The Growing Need of an American System
of Aboriculture.


of Aboriculture.
Washington Correspondence Globe-Demo-'
crat.]
The secretary of state has received from 7.
P. Baker, editor of the Topeka (Kas.) Com
monwealtE, assistant commissioner to the
Paris exposition. his report on forestry,
which, instead of including a bare narrative
of forest products, implements of forestry,
ETC., at Paris, gives in concise form the gen.
eral information derived from an examina-
ton of the exhibits Of this class, and also a
general idea of the system by which in
European countries, under difficulties
unknown in America, the culture OF forestry
has been fostered, protected and well righ
perfected. The report says the time has
happily passed, it is to be hoped, when
throughout the United States trees are con-
sidered encumbrances of the soil, to be
got rid of by the mos. wasteful and
destructive methods possible. There
is now as much anxiety felt
for the reforest1ng of our bare
hillsides as once was felt for stripping them
of the last vestige of covering. Yet when
our peOptS COuSlQ0E Tie area iuS uSiOIcSttus
and, in addition, the vast prairies of Kansas
and other Western States, themselves tree
less, and creating in the course of settlement
demand for the destruction of countless
acres of the fine forests If Wisconsin, Mich
igan and Minnesota-the American, unac-
quainted with any system of forest culture,
unaccustomed to any State or Federal legis-
lation on the subject, is apt to exclaim
"Who is sufficient for these things?'
The report hers contains an interesting
review of the forestry exhibit, especially
made in the chalet near the Administration
of Forest at the Trocadora, and in the con-
struction of which nearly 200 varieties OF
woods grown in France were used; also,
containing the geological and chronological
collections made by the School of Forestry
and Models, representing the reforesting
mountains. This exhibit was extremely
| interesting in all its details. showing the
| transformation of bare rocks into thrifty
wood lands the quadrupeds and birds of
France-beautiful specimens of taxidermy.
Next to that of France was the exhibit
OF THE BOTANICAL DIVISION
of the department of agriculture of the
United States, including sections of the
principal forest trees 300 pieces, foliage and
| flowers. The Oregau state eXh1Olt included
a cabinet composed of %, 900 pieces of wood
from her own forests, by Thoms Mehan. AS
/ early as 800 A. d. the first steps to protect
the forests of France from destruction were
| taken. Ir 1880 an ordinance was passed, un-
| der which corps of officers in charge OF
forest was appointed and in 1859 Louis XIV.
codi6ed the entire system of laws and took
measures to protect the interests of the king.
| dom, menaced by the destruction of the
forests. Every mountain was administered
by masterships, and the woods of private
| persons themselves were subjected to re.
s.rictions-judged indispenssbie-to assure
their preservation. The hunt, the fishing,
and, in fact, everything pertaining to the
administration of forests we're also confided
to the vigilance of officers of the master
ships. The authority OF the kings officers
/ vas paramount to the privileges of the lords
and religious corporations, as shown in the
contests with the parliaments, and was
| sustained by public opinion This superior
| right of protecting forests, whose preserva
! ton has from all time been recognized as
1 necessary to the existence of civilized soci
ETY. has been claimed by ali Governments
which have succeeded ancient monarchy in
1 France As the forestry system OF France
has always been the most perfect, and as the
protection of our own forests is now eDgag
ing public attention, especially as refers &c
the public domain. the facts in the report
relating to the subject OF
THE FORESTRY ORGANIZATION IN FRANCE
is interesting. Under the decree of 1871
revised by subsequent edicts. the forestry
organization of France consisted Of
Salary