The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-04-08

kind where the observations and expert
mentS shall relate not to the annual crops
of the farmer but shall take in the larg-
er growthS of the forest, studying all that
relates to tree growth. and carefully re-
cprdlng all ascertaihcd facts. testing the
value of different woods for various pur-
poses, investigating the relations of the
forest to moisture and rainfall. to water
supply and climate. and SO to health
III short. the relation of the trees to the
world i'll which man lives. and t. his life
in it. No one station could do the need
ed work for Il country extending as ours
does through So many lines OF latitude
and longitude. and embracing such di-
versity of meteorological conditions.
( There might well be ii station in every
State, and our agricultural colleges and
societies could in no way better prove
themselves true to the name they bear
tliau by undertaking such Il work OF care
tul observation and experiment as We
/ have Indicated.
/ IN one case. at least. the necessity OF
establishing such d school of observation
/ III connection with my agricultural socie-
/ the Arnold Abnretum of harvard Uni
velsity. This institutions is described by
I its director, Professor Sargent. as being
/ Firsl, Il museum OF hvIhg plants, i'll
which every tree and shrub capable OF
withstaIidlug the climate OF Massaclu-
sets Is To find its appropriate place. this
balimn and rarlru> special collection,
illustrative Of trees, their products and
uses.
Second, a scientific station for investi-
CATION Into the character. growth, and
economic and ornamental properties ui
trees. into he relations OF iulcsts II CHI
mate and the How al rivers; and into the
best mcthud> at DuIc>t II production ant
management.
Third, Il school of forestry aud aIbnri-
culture. III which special stu,ieuts may.
III ti'- hc i'i Stttl! lnSlI htti''il IL
Iclt. acquire the know ledge and training
necessary to lit them iur the care aud in,
crGa,e ii our for, SIS.
This modest Institution has already
modified Legislation III favor uI thee plant
my Ill several States, ana been the direct
cause ut planting many million trees. 1t
*
testing new plants in TINS country. and
scudluS those ot this country To different
parts vi the world. 1t maintains an ca
ten>lve correspondence i'll regard to trees
and arborlcuturc with every part of the
United States aud Europe, and is doing
much III SOLICITING and disseminating lu-
Formation. in regard to trees and their
cuiturc.
y similar ana nnmi>tukably good w"ih
HaI bc done IN cnhLt Ctlou with an, al
our coil, ges ur sclcutIlc schools. ana
there Is hardly an object Which more
"nmmeuh> itself To the LII" raj -minGru
lover Of his cuunlr. Ihau the toundln. ui
-lCH INSTITUTIONS dS Tue .AlntIlu Al
luIu.
low tar the general or State govern
nicn1s shuuld be lurkcd t. Tor aid IN pr,,-
lcctirg The existing forests, or III plant
iuy " here there ale Iunr. Is Il question
which wlIi be answered. Inherently 10y
different lrl>un the ana urtuuc III the
a
lation to The welfare oi the country So dl-
rect ami important, that. in itself cunsu-
cred. the legislative power might be un-
uc>itatiusly invoked. But il is not tue
poles %! The State or uatiu;i;li govern
tnent> to b- the owner, and managers of
great tracts ol land, like the European
governments. Eesid,s thee would be
great danger of encouragement il the
governmental authority Were directly
engaged. But So Tong as the nation q"
the separate States are holders vi pubIIc
lanos. they may well be expected to pl0.
tect them from wanton destruction. AMI
1t is sad Indication OF our ignorance OF
the true NaluS III iic trees. ana our con
segment Indifference, that there should
have been any hesitation on the part Of
Congress to protect by all its power the
timber lands of the West, scanty in
amount at the best from the thieves aud
marauders WHO are threatening by their
course to convert vast tracts of land into
IL desert. and bring upon that portion of
oar country irreparable evils.
The national government has done
something i'll the night direction by the
passage OF an act. IL lew years ago. by
which the public lands were made an
outright gilt t. the settler ,.n condition
OF his planting u certain portion of it
mite p Rod. 1t has been thought by some
that Il Bureau OF Forestry might be es-
tablIshed III connection with the Depart
mcnt OF the Interior, t. which might be
committed the care % tue so-cd!Ied tim
her lands" belonging to the government.
and OF the great parks Of the Rocky
Mountain region, and which might do
good service in collecting facts relating
TO the growth aud Uses OF trees. and dis
>cminating them throughout the cuur-
try. Others fear the strong tendency Of
all bureaus in or country To fall into the
hands of mere politicians, and 50 to Iail
at accomplishing any good. Possibly the
end JnSirpI NAV hp attained ~ n,np.r
with the Smithsonian [u>titution aided
is occasion may demand 10y COMPRESSION
al cooperation. Possibly there NAV grow
mp by -aud-by in this way central ma
rional arboretum. in addition to those
established as we have suggested in the
several States, and perhaps Il School ui
Forestry, or something answering the
purpose uf such. Hat for the present it
wouli seem best IL rely upon what may
be done within the narrower circle of
State action. whether it be of the local
governments or Of voluntary societies
and scientific associations. These organ
iZlIions will be comparatively safe from
political influence. while they will be
likely to be the more effective as they ale
closer to the various theatres q! action,
and will understand more fully the
special needs Of their particular localities.
Scene at a Wedding.
\ singular spectacle took place in Nir-
ginia about ten days ago during a mar
rage ceremony. In the very midst of
the service the preacher stopped short.