The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-09-12
Ch.nges 81 Forest Growth.

fire or otherwise, have led many per-
sons to think that it was the result of
e natural tendency to rotation in
tfiN cas- of vegetation. II pine for
ests are destroyed by fire they are fire.
qucrtly followed by a grow, h of oak
and hickory, and this is espec ally true
in some Of the Atlantic States. But
this change can readily be accounted
for from the fact that the pine stumps
and roots do not throw up sprouts,
and the pine seeds and small seedlings
are far more quickly destroyed than
the nuts of the oak or hickories; and
furthermore, the roots and stumps of
these same trees do not burn as read
lily as those of the pine, and will also
withstand far higher temperature
without serious IN Jury. In all of the
pine for SITS that we have examined, in
The localities named, we have always
found more or less scrub oaks and
stunted hickories, and similar species
of deciduous trees which the deep
shade of the pines had kept in check,
only few obtaining sufficient sunlight
to insure vigorous and natural
growth: but, SO soon as the shade is re-
moved by the destruction of the ever
green trees. they make their presence
known by shooting up rapidly.
The casual observer of such sudden
changes in the appearance of forest
growths, without KNOWN the facts is
often led TO believe in the erroneous
theory of spontaneous generation of
plants. In Tact. we have often heard it
asserted that the oaks, hickories, and
other species of trees that are known to
spring up on what are called the pine
lands of New ersey and Long Island,
were spontaneous productions of the
soil. and did not spring from either
seed or roots: but a close .amina ion
will prove this to be an error, for all of
these trees are sprouts from old roofs
or well developed seeds. In most of
the e forests the oaks and other species
# teciduous trees have been cut out
from time to time dur No the past cen
fury or longer, and this left the pines
more room to grow. spread out. and
shade the ground once occupied by the
kinds of treesrremoved, and in this way
forests that century ago were COM
posed of mixed species are now almost
s,clu lively pine. In >oIe part OF the
south the same change i observed, and
the pine is followed by the oaks in
digenous to the region. while in other
localities the pines take posses
sion of abandon q plantations and
old fields, even where the orig
inal fore It's were composed principally
of deciduous species. Almost the same
thing usually occurs in New Jersey
when fields are abandoned, only it is
the common red cedar that has posses
sion of them instead of pines, the
seeds o the cejar probably being
widely distributed by birds which feed
on the berries in autumn.
In regions where the deciduous
species make up the bulk of the forests.
the kinds that spread most rapidly into
I'm cultivated fields and out on the
prairies are those that have winged
seeds, like the map es. ash and elms,
for these are widely scattered by the
wind, and it is quite probable that if
the Indians had ceased burning OF the
grass on the prairieS two or three CEN
turieS ago, our pioneers in Illinois.
ard adjoining States would
ha found great forests, instead Of an
open and sparseIy wooded country.
The annual res kept down the shrubby
growth, besides constantly encroaching
, pom the forests; but, as soon as these
tires ceased, the trees again began 10
advance, and in some instances spread
out miles bevond the former boundaries
Of the forests. before the pillow of the
male further progress i'm
possible.
After leaving what may be termed
The Mississippi Valley, we reach the
plains, where for thousand miles
tree culture is thing to be
tested, but with fair chance OF ITS SUI =
cess only in the more favorable valleys,
or where irrigation is practicable. On
the foothills and mountains. Il ter cross
ing the pains, forests again appear,
and although miners, lu Ibermen and
the ore smeiters have made sad havo:
of the forests of the Rocky Mountain
REGIONS they have scarcely been more
destructive than the ever recurring for
est res in those regions. When the
trees have been cut OF by lumbermen
Or for cord wood. new growths spring
M of the same or loosely allied species
Of those that are removed. and we do |
not new remember to have ever OBJ |
served that any different species came |
In to replace those destroyed, except in
some instances where the land had
been burned overly accident or design. |
Wherever freS are kept out of these |
clearings, seedlings spring up in
greater or less abundance, and, If not |
disturbed, new forests will soon be
found in the plac O the old, composed
of the same or similar spe les of trees. |
" hat is most needed in all forest ov-
cred regions, or where fores have |
been removed, is protection 10 new |
growths, and if this is afforded, renew
ais will 90 on rapidly and uniformly,
even without the aid of man. 1t is
true, however. that foresters can be of
great service in increasing the value of
forests by a judieious system o! thinning
out, destroying the less valuable kinds
to make room or better. Some of the
most worthless trees for either timber
or fuel grow very rapidly, and viii. If
I ermitted to do so. clowd out and over
grow The very choi est kinds. Protec-
ton and proper directions are all that
are positively nece sary to restore and
preserve the forests OF this CO. ntry.-
n. T. Sun.