Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-11
m,er9ilanfrus
Our Forests.
THE NECESSITY OF WOODLANDS TC
HEALTH-THE MASSACHUSETTS HILLS.

| The current number of the Medical and
Surgical Journal contains an article OF
great interest on" Sanitary Forest Culture"
by Dr. Alleyne Adams In it he says ::
Massachusetts, has been a leader among
the States in regard to forestry, and yet
the practical outcome of what has hitherto
been done is not very great.
The law passed two years ago was spec
ially intended to effect the preservation of
the Middlesex Falls and their conversion
into public park. with the double pur-
pose of improving the watershed OF the
streams and ponds in that vicinity and OF
maintaining sylvan health resort. This
is An important step forward. and yet the
law is not likely to result in any general
purchase of forests and waste lands bv
towns and cities. Such purchases would
be most likely to be made for the purpose
of improving water supply. but the fact
that the water supply of one town is very
often derived from another town. while
this law only permits towns to purchase
lands within their own limits. renders the
law of but little use for this purpose. The
same objection will apply to the improve
ment of the reservoirs of manufacturing
companies, since the streams which feed
them seldom arise in the same town, and
sometimes not even in the same county or
State 1t has been suggested that the
State might charter forestry corporations.
composed of manufacturers and others
whose interests are involved, with power
to purchase and hold large tracts of forest
land: but the antipathy of our people to
great land monopolies would doubtless
render the passage of such law impos
sible.
The benefits to be derived from forest
culture are not sufficiently local in their
character. for such work to be assumed
with the best success by either towns or
corporations. the forests in one part OF
the State benefit the whole population.
especially in the ways which have
been outlined in this paper. and. there
tore. the wisest plan would be for the
State to assume control of the forests, pur-
chasing such lands of little value for
farming purposes as NAV seem advisable,
and planting them with forest trees. From
these lands the State would in the future
receive a revenue from the sale of timber.
to be cut under such system as to insure
the perpetuation of the forest. To obtain
the very best results, such measures
should be undertaken by all the States,
and when beginning is made by one or
or more States, others will be likely to
follow their example.
Upon the hills of Western Massachu-
sets are thousands of acres of land, which
when first cleared, was sufficiently produc-
tive; but the soil. no longer held together
bv the roots of the trees, has had its light
err and richer portions washed out year by
year, until its best elements have found
their way into the valleys, leaving the hill
farms sterile and nearly worthless. The
change is evidenced by the ruined houses
and half obiterated cellars, which are
sadly abundant on the hills. indicating a
population and prosperity in former times
which would now be impossible. In the
vicinity of Boston, within my recollection.
many fine tracts of woodland have been
cut down for firewood, leaving barren.
rocky hills, looking desolate enough with
out their once beautiful covering.
If these sterile hill all over the State.
could be planted with the best varieties of
forest trees, and properly cared for, the
adjacent lands would be enhanced, our
streams would flow with greater regulari-
ly, freshets, aud low water would both be
less common, the climate would be tenn
pered, the extremes of heat and cool be-
ing less marked, the winds less violent.
the rainfall would be more copous and
regular, malaria would lose its foothold.
while every grove would be sanitarium
for the weary denizens of city and town.