The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-05

III
teal farmers--let US, as we learn the ne
cessity for SO doing, give our attention to
the Importance Of planting trees, or at least
permitting some of our rough hill-sides to
again elothe themselves in native green.
OF the beauty Of our groves and forests,
many poet has sung and many wor-
shipper Of the great Builder Of the Universe
has sought them as Goods first temples"
Apart from their majestic beauty, We
plodding farmers must seek out their use
fulness-not as so many feet Of lumber
but as living organisms that help to keep
the earth habitable for man. ''1hey are
says Hon. A. S. Paddock necessary
factors in the sum total Of those influences
which constitute the environments Of ami
NAL life Trees, by absorbing carbonic
acid gas and emitting oxygen, act as agents
in rendering the atmosphere life-sustain-
ing As a mechanical shelter they play
an important part in protecting both the
ground and human habitations from cold
and destructive winds. By their power
ofabsorption the roots Of trees take up
fromthe soil and give of through their
leaves an amount Of moisture which, de-
Quoting therefroW the quantity absorbed
in turn BY the leaves from tho air, is sufii-
cient to exercise an important influence in
increasing the humidity ofthe atmosphere.
The forest subseryes most benefcient
purpose, in increasing the frequency Of
rains, and the amount Of precipitation OF
both rain and dew BY the protection az
forded the soil against the escape Of mois-
ture, it preserves and tends to make regu-
lar and permanent the natural springs"
Years ago our fathers and mothers puzzled
their brains with the oft recurring ques-
ton What viii we do for frc-wood in
few years 7 The black nuggets of Penn
sylsania answer that question, but they do
not answer the appeal for protection that
goes up from our rivers, and creeks aud
fast disappearing springs Of water, left ex-
posed to the rays Of the sun by the de-
struction of cur forests. There are but
few members Of this Club, who may not
recollect the long stretches Of woodland,
that were sure to intervene, in q ride of
twenty miles in any direction from Union
Bridge twenty-five years ago. These
stretches have been materially shortened,
and 50 much thinned out, that perhaps not
more than one-half of the timber is now
standing which then wooded our hills and
valleys.
In the Middle Western States this is
greatly augmented by the demand for
cleared land for cultivation, and there are
now whole fields in Ohio full of trees,
standing up dead and limblcss, under
whi;h corn or wheat is grown. We see
the woodlands around US disappearing I'M
der the sharp axes Of mon, who buy farms
expecting to pay for them by clearing off
the timber, but il is only by cnlarging our
view Of this matter, and looking up the
statistics Of the whole country, that we
gain an Intelligent idea of the rapidity
with which this work is going on. The
number Of ties required annually for the
10000 miles of railroad ia this country, is
estimated at $4,000, 900, which neeessi-
tates the cutting Of 10000 acres Of tim
Der. The new fencing costs annually
sl9S 100000. Our telegraph lines are
said to have used 100000 trees. Prof.
Marsh has estimated that the lumber used
IN this country would require the destruc-
tion Of ~ ,D0O,0 900 acres of timber annu-
ally. 'srhe Governor Of Ohio az the last
session Of the Legislature Of that State,
called its attention 10 the fact, that out of
total area Of 100000 acres Of wood
land 10 that State three years ago, 4,0O0,-
600 acres had been consumed The
President Of The United States, the Gov
errors Of the States, and prominent men
the country over, are urging the neces-
aity Of something being done to prevent
the anuihilation Of our forests. The See
sstsfy Of the Interior says ;--eThc rapidity
with which this country is being stripped Of
itsiofest, m,stalarm avery thinking man.
IN 1850 France had 100000 acres Of
Eoodland, which had been reduced TO one
half that amount 10 1860. Spain could
not build hor fleets for want Of wood, and
thus the Spanish dislike Of trees lost to that
country, political supremacy. Italy and
Russia have both suffered from too rapid
consumption Of their forests, while Ger
many, BY her more efficient forestry laws,
has been able to preserve and renew her
woodlands Whatever these German laws
may be, they act farorahly, as the sequel
shows: and Why may not We, Americans,
WHO are progressive people jealous Of
our lihef'i 5 and ambitious 10 take front
>ezt among the nations &c the earth---adopt
such measures as will protect tie forests
now standing Of rchabiliiaie the ground
once sienuda 81 them.
Il i Dot permitted by law that ono per
son should divert stream Of water from
10 natural channel 10 the detriment Of his
nzishbof--shat is-5if the water Is taken
and used q power, il mist Be re.
tafisd % is natural bed before leaving
tle Land o. premises Of The person So using
4 This i % doabt, good law, and found
q upon the principle Of justice between
'aan ind map Now II Il not lawful to
d;seit stream Of water from It's natural
course, may i not Be made equally unlaw.
laIfo destroy or dfy-up neighbsr ssprinu
<tlse s4ufna d ihe stream. BIZ clearing The
Noo1lspd above il ? OF The Two evils the
hitter j. The greater.
This i new country compared with
Europe, and is inhabifanls do not fear 4
deaf;lt of ;imbsf, 10 long as there i money
70 te made " cutting II Of The farmers
heEQ afa hugely thd owners Of the farms
they cultivate, aud DO not interest tllen-