Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-10-13
Lend a Helping Hand.

~ SVA0 AAssANss
The American Forestry Commission
is doing a good work, This body met
recently at st. Paul to discuss the pres
ent condition and prospects of American
forests. Hon. Geo. B. Loring made an
excellent address, urging that q law be
made against their reckless destruction.
He also stated, what all will be glad to
know, that in Maine, New York, Ohio
and some other States, trees were being
set out so generally that the acreage Of
forests was steadily increasing.
In this connection it may be we'll to
call attention to II thick pamphlet on
this subject by R. W. Phipps, of To-
ronto, which is full of valuable informa-
ton concerning the forests between the
Detroit and the Ottawa, which con-
tanned, a century since, ''perhaps the
most valuable masses of timber which
ever existed in a region of its SIZE"
He goes into rhapsodies over magnifi-
cent naples four feet through; beeches
with straight, blue-gray stems for over
fifty feet; white oak enough to rib the
navies of Europe, and white ash, hick-
DRY, cedar, hemlock, birch and the
great Canadian pine in countless num-
bers. 1t makes n almost angry to
hear Of the awful waste which went on
year after year among these superb
trees. The Genius Of Destruction
stalked through that land; yes, and
through great stretches of our own
forests likewise. The axe and fire to-
gether laid low those mighty pine, hem
lock and black walnut trees for miles on
miles, to clear the way for q little wheat
on thin, sandy soil. What would not
these forests, especially of black wal
nut, be worth now!
Mr. Phipps refers to his own lifelong
experience in Ontario, and recalls the
vast tracts of woods swept away, and
the results to the country. Many an old
farmer is now buying his firewood,
who, then, lavishly wasted acres upon
acres, or sold the wood for a trif1e. An
other result was seen in the lack of rain
and the washing away Of the soil on the
barred hillsides.0 1t is easy now for these
Ontario farmers to realize their hun
ders. 1t was not so easy then. And
here is a lesson for some of us to ponder.
Do some of readers live where
this reckless destruction of the forests is
still going on? Then it is for them to
consider, in time, what can be done to
stop this waste. Do more of our read
ers live where this waste has already
taken place? Then it is for them to
consider how best to restore the smitten
forests. 1t is a comparatively easy
thing to do. A little good Judgment
and a very little outlay Of money would
secure to every farmer timber enough
to supply his firewood, protect his build
ings from fierce winds, furnish shade
wherever needed and ornament his
premises. Thousands of Western farm-
ers have, in this way, turned large
trips of the rich prairies into dense
woods, shielded their homes and stock
h'om the keen winter wind and fierce
heat of summer, lined the roadways with
noble shade trees, and cut a good supply
for fuel. The first cost was trifing, the
land lost to other uses a very small por-
ton of their farms, while the increase in
comfort, beauty and value a very con
siderable one.
What has been done there to such an
extent may be done, to a degree, hy
every nan who owns a plot of land, be
1t large or small. 1t is an occupation of
which any man may be proud. The
man Of years who can look out upon
lordly trees, which add beauty to his
home and value to his property, and say,
81 planted those trees in my YOUTH"
may well be proud. My friend, if you
W a piece OF land VOW q vow not to be
broken, that, ere Thanksgiving day, at
least one oak or maple, beech or walnut,
n11,o an nina chon ol1,o AL .-l>.-
you get started, if your experience is
like ours, you won't stop with one tree
by any means. And, if you have chill
dren, teach them to plant trees and love
them, too. Mark occasions of Joy by
the planting of a tree; the birthday Of
one of the family o. some other dear
friend, a festival, a marriage, q gradua-
ton, a visit, or any occasion which it is
pleasant to remember. BY planting
trees children may learn a lesson Of
ownership; by caring for them they will
also grow up to love nature and be kept
free, to a good degree, from harmful
pursuits. They will be very grateful to
you in maturer years if you inspire this
love in them. Try it and see. Plant
fruit trees, also, and may you live to
share with them the Joy of eating the
fruit. The more you do in this line the
more you will continue to do, and,
finally, you will become an enthusiast in
planting trees; and your neighbors will
catch something of your spirit and many
an old forsaken spot will bud and bring
forth fruit, and another generation will
bless the memory of the man who did SO
much for them.-Golden Rule.