Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-06-07
ngle Copies of the Herald. s Cents.
Tree Planting.

The subject of tree planting is one to
which the HERALD has frequently called
the attention of its readers, and it is
one in which Californians, especially we
who dwell in the south, can not take too
much interest. And, when we remem-
ber that in Asia vast regions once teem-
ing with prosperous and happy millions
are now arid because they were denuded
of the forests once covering them, the
subject is one of interest to all loving
our country, and willing to do their part
in promoting its future welfare.
To the eastward of the divide the
subject of arboriculture is awakening
very general attention, and communi-
ties vie, one with another, in the work
of planting trees. They are justly
alarmed because of the fact staring them
in the face that if the destruction of the
forests progresses at its present annual
rate, and no steps be taken to repair the
waste, in fifty years the country will be
almost entirely denuded of timber. The
Federal government has done all that
comes within its power, short of the ac-
tual payment of bounty, to promote
the planting Of useful trees, and several
of the State governments are fostering
the movement; but in this country all
great reforms are due to the spontaneous
movements of the people such as the late
Congress of Forestry which assembled
at Cincinnati.
A lack of space prevents our entering
into the subject to the extent which we
desire, but few facts may not be unin-
teresting to our readers. The soil can
not produce without rain or irrigation.
OF these rain is preferable, and this is
condensed by the cooler strata of air al
ways existing above districts covered
with trees, as they do over great bodies
of water. 1t never rains in some parts
of the world simply because in such
places there are no forests to condense
the moisture of the atmosphere. In Los
Angeles the unexpected rain of last
month was undoubtedly due to the area
in and about the city now covered by
trees, and in the future the rainfall of
this region will become greater as this
covered area increases until our agricul-
tural possibilities will be hampered no
longer by dread of droughts.
Individually We are doing much, but
our labors are confined chiefly to the
planting of fruit or nut bearing trees.
In view of the population which our
county will, in the not distant future,
be called upon to sustain, we should
plant also trees of which the timber can
be utilized in the constructive arts. As
it is, our lumber all comes from dis
tance and it is very difficult to get it
properly seasoned because of the great
and increasing demand.
In many of the Eastern towns and
villages associations are formed for the
planting of trees about the streets and
on the lands of members. The outlay
of time and money required for this
purpose is very slight and could incon-
venience no one who would naturally
desire to take part in such an undertak-
ing. 1t seems to us that the formation
of such an association in Los Angeles
might be accomplished easily. The
result could not but be beneficial for
most of our citizens are also owners of
lands in the country, and in a few years
not only would the streets of our city be
things of beauty, but the hills and
waste lands of the suburban region
would be covered with q growth of
forest of value almost incalculable.