The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-09-17
Our American FOrests-HOw to Take
Care Of Them.

SolC Vi
An interesting article on the protection OF
forests, full OF valuable information and
wise suggestion, is contributed to the cur
rent number of the North American Reriep
by Prof. CHARLES s. SARGENT of Harvard
University. Mr.. SARGENT is one Of the
most accomplished botanists in the country;
the forestry bulletins OF the present census
are prepared under his supervision; and no
one can speak with more authority concerning
American forests and how to take care OF them.
The idea that trees mako rain is utterly re-
jected by Mr. SARGENT. The fact is that rain
makes trees. Wherever there is abundance
OF rain there will be forests. Where rain Is
scanty, trees cannot be made to grow without
artificial irrigation. The great forests OF the
United States are in the Atlantic region, ex-
tending from the coast to the Mississippi
and beyond, where the rainfall Is plentiful,
and on the mountains Of tho Pacific coast,
where it is still more copious. The great in
terror plateau is treeless The moisture is
insufficient. On it's borders however, says
Mr.. SARGENT, there Is O broad strip OF de-
batabc ground. Trees will grow hero II
they are planted and cared for, but II any
part OF the outlying forest Is destroyed it
will not renew itself. In this region We in
fer that tree planting should be encouraged,
but Mr.. SARGENT denounces the law known
as the timber culture act, because 1t misleads
settlers into planting trees where they will
not grow unless watered by artificial means.
While insisting that forests do not cause
rain, he emphasizes their Importance as con-
sentative agents in its distribution after it
has fallen, and declares that perhaps the
highest claim for care and protection which
the forest can make upon man lies in this
power which it possesses to regulate and
protect the flow OF rivers" When water tails
upon a treeless land, it PUSHES away in de-
structivc torrents and is gone. When it falls
upon country clothed with forests, it passes
away slowly. The rivulcts, the brooks, and
the rivers flow perpctually, instead of only
for few days or weeks, then to become in
significant or disappear. Wherever there
are forests the snow will melt more slowly
in spring, so that there will be fewer fresh
ets the earth will be held in place by the
trees so that there will be less erosion, and
evaporation will be checked so that the tenn
perature OF the country will be more equabe.
Enormous and reckless as has been the
destruction OF American forests, Mr.. SAR-
GENT does not take a gloomy view Of the
luJuIt. w luc pluc lOIcSIS VI tIC -NOIlu-
ern States and Canada have for the most part
| disappeared, falling before the axe or perish
ing by fire, the tracts Of spruce both north
and south Of the boundary, says Mr.. SAR-
GENT, are still extensive, land, with proper
management, should be able to meet for n
long time any demands which may be made
upon them" So far as the supply of pine Is
concerned, he looks with great hope to the
maritime belt OF pine forest, nearly 200 miles
wide, which stretches along the coast from
Virginia into Texas. The eastern portion of
| this Southern pine belt has suffered some
what from the lumbcrman and the turpentine
gatherer, but west of the Mississippi n
virgin forest of pine still spreads fur and
wide" The wants of the world, according to
Mr.. SARGENT might be supplied indefinitely
from the Southern pine forests under scnsi-
bic management.
or broad-caved, hard wood trees, the finest
remaining forests are on the further slopes
OF the Appalachian range and in some of the
States beyond the Mississippi but near it,
These need greater protection against ami
mails, which are allowed to range among
them and destroy the seedlings. Most peo-
pie will be surprised to learn that next to fire
the browsing animal is the greatest enemy
OF the American forest.
On the Pacific coast the rcdwoods OF Cali
fornia seem likely to disappear before many
years, so FAR as they possess any economical
Importance, although Mr.. SARGENT thinks
the tree will spring up again; but centuries
mast elapse," he tells us "bcforc such new
forests can rival in productivcncss or extent
those which California il now so rapidly dis
spating." The Sierra forests contain so
few young Seeding trees that they are pccu-
liarly In danger OF extinction by reason of
the browsing habits OF the horses, sheep,
cattle, and goats which are pasturcd among
the mountains. They also suffer from fires
The heavy forests of the Pacific region, how
ever, speaking generally, are described al
still intact
So far as the Atlantic forests are concerned
Mr.. SARGENT sees no occasion for any at
tempt to regulate or protect them on the
part Of the general Government. The States
should enact and enforce stringent laws fol
the prevention Of forest fires, and for the tx
clusion OF browsing animals from woods
While 1.-The right of every man to use his
Woodlands AS pasture cannot DO denied, il