Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-05-02
The Preservation Of Forests.

In an article with the above title In
the North american ReUtetO Felix Il.
Oswald, after reviewing the disastrous
effects which have followed the whole
sale destruction of forests in various
countries of the world, remarks that
since the year 1885 the forest area Of
the Western Hemisphere has decreased
at the average yearly rate Of $500, 900
acres or about II, 400 square miles; in
the United States alone this rate has
advanced from 1000 square miles in
1885 to 1000 in 1855, and 400 In 1876.
Between 1850 and 1885 the total aggre-
gate of forests feIled in South and Cen
tral America Especially in Southeast
ern Mexico) and in the Eastern, South
eastern, and Southwestern States OF
our Republic, may be estimated at from
$4,000, 900 to so, 00O, ,0O0acres. In other
words, we have been wasting the
moisture supply of the American soil
at the average ratio of per cent
of each quarter of a century during the
last 125 years, and are now fast ap-
proaohing the limit beyond which any
further increase will affect the climate
phenomena of the entire continent.
If we consider how the agricultural
products Of the eastern continents be-
come from year to year more made
quabe TO the wants Of their still growing
population, we may fOresee the time
when the hope of the world viii depend
on the Dred6etiVeness of the American
soil; but that productiveness depends
on the feTtilizSRg influences Of the
American forests. If they are gone we
shall have on earth 80 newer world 70
hope for-no futureC Columbus can ale
viate the struggle for existence. To
such a catastrophe the author suggests
that in every township, where the dis
appearance of arboreal Vegetsaon be-
gins to affect the perennial springs and
water courses, or the fertility OF Gne
fields, a space of fifty acres should De
appropriated for a township grove,
an oasis to be cossecrated forever 70
shade trees, birds nests, picnics, and
PLAYING children. In all new settle
ments, where q remnant Of the pri-
mevaI forests have survived, let the
woods on the upper ridges or on the
summit of isolated hills be spared by
mutual agreement of the proprietors.
In the treeless regions Of the great
West not only amateur societies, but
every grange and farmers union OF
every county should devote themselves
to the work of tree cultures and every
landed proprietor should see to 1t that
the boundaries Of his estates be set
with shade trees, and that wooden
fences be supplanted by quickest
hedges. Let fruit trees be planted
wherever there is a piece Of ground
u,aither otherwise occupied nor ALSO
nutely barren; and be sure that their
TilaCence on the atmosphere in summer
and their fertilizing leaves in fall viii
mODe htanindemnify the adjoining fields
for ithe modicum of sunlight they may
inteEaept. Amy State where these pre-
eRntinRs should be generally adopted
would ,sOo4 be so Enthusiastically DIS
itinguished ,by S.Se unfailing humidity
and freshness az its fields ana me
abundance Of its ,cress, that the sheer
necessity Of competition you'd indnce
Backward neighbors to ,t{y she same
experiment; and before long the Roaxim
would not only he generally recogn niEed,
hut generally acted upon, that hus-
Ibandry and tree culture are msepara-
bls.-Sciensifc AnlerScGB.