River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-12-14
IN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE RUIN
OF AMERIC4N FOAESTS.

IN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE RUIN
OF AMERICAN FOhESTS.
The very necessities of their situation
have aroused the people Of some of our
Western States to action. In Kansas,
Nebraska and other States liberal pre-
miums have been offered for the encour-
agement of tree-planting, and already i'll
many portions of the prairie region
perceptible change has taken place, and
the eye no longer wanders over great
spaces without sight of shrub or tree.
Minnesota has her Forestry Association,
and its Secretary reports that between
seven and ten millions Of trees were
planted in that State during the year
1877, of which more than half million
were planted in single day, "Arbor
Day." as it is called, or tree-planting
day, the first Tuesday of May having
been fixed upon as the day, and every
owner of land invited to devote the day
especially to the planting of trees. Sim
liar efforts have been made in other
States which are similarly situated in
respect to supply of forest. The great
railway companies, whose roads stretch
across the tree.ess prairies, have become
in some instances large planters of trees,
feeling the need of them both as screens
from the fierce storms that sweep down
from the Rocky mountains, and as q
source of supply for the ties which are
constantly needing renewal.
Tree planters manuals are published
and distributed freely, with a view to
aid those who would plant, giving them
the experience already obtained in re-
gard to the most profitable trees to
plant and the best methods of planting.
Thus in some places there is already
quite movement in the right direction.
In the reports of planting the figures
make an imposing aggregate. But a
liberal discount needs to be made for
the probable failure of large percent
age of the trees planted. And even
with the most generous estimate in re-
gard to the work of planting, what is
accomplished as yet is but fraction Of
what needs to be done. 1t is but the
feeble beginning of vast work. The
talk is of millions of trees planted.
This sounds well But good many
trees can stand upon an acre, and the
latest estimates put the annual decrea Q
of cur forest area at 1000, 600 acres. So
that Minnesota, with all her ardor in
this work, has only planted one tree for
every acre of trees destroyed. An area
equal to that of the State of Maryland is
every year swept clean of its tees. This
is a large section to be taken yearly out
of our forest resources. With all that
we are yet doing in the way of tree
planting, the balance is largely against
us. With all the interest and energy
manifested by the young West on this
subject, stimulated by her most press
ing need, We are only planting one acre
while thirty-five are laid bare by the AZ
and by fire. Aud We must consider also
that the work of destruction goes on at
an increasing rate from year to year as
our population and our industries in
crease, and that the trees which are
felled are the product, on the average,
of more than century's growth, while
those we plant must grow during
century before they can FL their place.
-HaEper's NGoastse