Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-12-28
lancaster !gntelligenrcr.
yosns RS AND rAR n ERs.
ver the Consideration Of Agr,cuitur,sts.

Vos the Consideration Of Agricuiturisn.
Telegraph.
Farmers. whether they cultivate a thou.
sand acres OF only score, should bear 1t
ia mind that they should join with others
IN not only retaining tho present extent OF
forest upon their land, but in adding, by
planting their share, TO increase the tim
Der production Of the country. Ii Is not
indispensable that all the new growth
should be the oaks, hickories, etc., but a
portion may be fruit trees, such as walnut,
chestnut, cherry. eto. Patches Of new
timber should be found upon every farm,
will be readily seen how immense the az.
gregate would be, and how important the
Influence by the increase Of the moisture
and the shade upon the productive capao
ity of the cultivated ground.
That forests produce moisture, ana
shade enriches the soil, thus adding 20 tne
extent of the crops and the quantity oil
food for man and beasts q question
which is no longer debatable. Look, Tor
instance, nj Egypt, portions OF Persia ana
the valley Of the Euphrates aud Ilgris
rivers in Asiatic Turkey, and We will see
that the very site of the Garden of Eden
IL nothing now but barren sands, appear
ing as II no green thing ever existed
there, yet we all have read of the bound
less fertility of tho soil, and the uusur-
passed beauty of the land at one period OF
the world. There can be no doubt that
the wholesale destruction Of the forests
can have but one result--to make the soil
sterile aud uuproductive, which will ma:
turally drive away the population until
whole regions are abandoned and given up
to the ravages of time. This cousumma
A.. M 10 IN larUA
siops of territory to be seen in the older
continents of Asia and Africa, and will in
time oyerwhelm any land denuded Of its
forest. It lis true that this may not happen
until after the lapse Of centuries, but II
will come eventually and inevitably where
forests have abounded, and where they
are constantly reduced until they are all
measurably destroyed, and none are
planted to take their places and keep up
the ordinary moisture of the land, and the
affluence which naturally is the result of
shade.
In many sections of tho West and
south west, devoid OF timber, and known
as praires, cultivation is mainly success
full only by irrigation There are no trees,
doubtless owing to the great fires that
must have swept over these regions and
carried wholesale destruction Of the for
ests at remote period. 1t cannot be as
cribed TO any other cause. We are pleased
to say, however, that in these regions, of
late years, this denudation 10 being RENE
died by the planting Of forests, produced
in many instances by certain state govern
ments offering liberal premiums to encour
age tree planting, and we see already mil.
lions upon millions of trees growing
where only few years ago scarcely tree
h.,a Go - aaN
road companies find it TO their interest to
stock the vacant parts of their lines with
young trees and thus grow enough timber
to supply their own enormous wants for
ties, and besides to provide grateful
shade for their numerous passenger trains.
Such varieties as the catalpa, cottonwood,
etc., grow rapidly, and being of an endur.
ing nature, il is this that we must look to
mainly in the future to meet this great
and increasing demand for railroad ties.
The idea that farmers and landowners
generally entertained that they may not
live to enjoy the advantages of the tree
planting, should be utterly banished from
their minds. They will require only about
twenty years to realize the most liberal
hopes of success at least it will add to
the value of the farm, by the fact that the
amount Of timber is to be Increased instead
of diminished. We all know how auxiou:
every purchaser Of tract of land is L
know whether there is any and how mucl
timber upon farm offered for sale. l
fact, there is no greater mistake mad
than to cut down the wood upon far
when purchased, with view 70 msel tn
second payment and this mistake is il
variable brought home to every one in
few years. II is then too late TO remed
the evil. 1t is like taking the lfe.bloo
out of the land