The Portland daily press., 1882-08-03
On. 7. Post.)
New ENGLAND Forasts.

Thirty years ago the pine forests of Maine
were considered inezhsustible, and Bangor
was the greatest pine-distributing centre on
the continent Spruce, which then abounded
in all the Northeastern forests, was little es-
teemed and rarely cut and hemlock not at all,
except for its bark.
We are reminded of these facts by the pub
LEGATION by the Census Office of Forestry Bulle-
tin No 15, which deals with the pine and
spruce forests of Maine. The map which ac-
companies this Bulletin shows that nearly one
half of the entire area formerly covered with
coniferous forests has been stripped of its mer-
charitable timber, and that the large pine, and
nearly all the largest and best spruce, has been
culled from the remainder. There are still,
however, some considerable bodies of large
scattered pine, principally in the extreme
southwestern part of the state, which, strongly
held as investments, have thus far escaped de-
struction. Second-growth pine, too, ia spring
ing up wherever IN the state the forest is
spreading again over abandoned farming lands;
and the Oldest of the second-growth plne, al
though far from mature, already furnishes the
mills with saw-logs, and actually supplied
large portion of the hundred and odd million
feet of pine cut in the state during the census
year.
Great changes have occurred in the lumber
ing industry in Maine during the last twenty
years. Now five sixths of all the lumber man.
ufactured in the State is spruce, the supreme
CIV of Bangor as a lumber market is thing OF
the past, end the Pine-Tree State obtains much
of the pine which it consumes from Canada
and Michigan. As factors in the countrys
supply of lumber the forests OF Maine are not
now worth consideration. An examination OF
their actusl condition, however, shows that
their future is not without hope, and that In
no other part of the country can such valuable
lessons in forest economy be learned. Prof.
Sargent, in his Bulletin, calls attention to the
fact that sthe system OF cutting only the large
trees and carefully protecting the remainder
prevails in Maine, and allows the forest to be
proftably worked at stated periods, varying
from fifteen Ito twenty-five years. The state
of public feeling which has made sucn sys-
tenn possible has not yet extended much be-
You'd the s ate, but the fact that forest-owners
in Maine have been able successfully to guard
their property against fire and Introduce sem
sible system of preserving their young and
half-groWn trees, indicates that a similar pub
lie sentiment may in other parts OF the coun-
try attend enhanced values OF forest property.
Fire is the greatest check to the spread OF
forest growth in the Eastern States; but, as we
have more than once pointed out in these col
umns, means will be found to reduce the num-
Der and extent of forest Tres as soon as the
money value of the forest makes It's preserva-
ton of prime importance to community.
Such has been the case in Maine. Its great
source of wealth and prosperity existed in Its
forests They were fast melting away ana
what fires and the improvide 1T methods OF the
old days had left became of such vital Impor-
lance to the welfare of the whole people that
the preservation of the remnants became posi-
Bile. In Maine forest fires &se LOW OF compars
atively rare occurrence. The entire forest
growth is not cut off, as in the Northwestern
pineries; all trees below certain size are al
lowed to grow for another harvest; and young
pine, which is freely springing up IN some parts
of the State, is as carefully watched and guard
ed as farm crop. Unfortunately. these wise
measures were not adopted, or their necessity
even dreamed of, until the great pine supply
of the State had been practically exhausted
but it is growing again, and, while Maine will
never yield a second crop OF pine equal to the
first it is not at all improbable that she will re-
gain-and before many yearS-her position OF
| first among the white pine producing States.
! Forestry Bulletin No. 16, with an accompany
| ing map, treats of the pine and spruce supply
| of New Hampshire and Vermont. The ORR
| ginal pine woods in both these States has en-
| tirely disappeared, although the valley of the
| Connecticut, the shores of Lake Champlain
and all of southeastern New Hampshire were
| once covered with vast forests OF white pine.
| A growth of young pine has sprung up, princi-
| palIy in the southern part of these States, and
| these Young forests furnished cut of over one
hundred million feet of lumber during the
| Census year. But these trees are cut too
| young, and at too great sacrifice OF future
| profit. The spruce forests of New Hampshire
and Vermont, although reduced by fully three
| quarters of their original extent, still cover
| considerable areas in tho White Mountain
j region and along the ridge of the Great Noun
| taiu range. Young second-growth pine is
carefully protected from fire, and "sprout"
pine lands are now held at high figures; but
| the spruce forests are not yet as we'll preserved
or carefully worked as in Maine, and they are
too often the prey to destructive fires. 1t is
worthy OF remark that Burlington, once in the
heart of great coniferous forests, and still the
third Notwithstanding point in the United
States-Chicago and Albany being the first
and seconds wholly supplied with Canadian
! her