Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-04-24
ArIlOr naV.

The Importance of preserving our forests
ID with eUry year recognized by an increas-
ing number of people, and no surer means for
spreading abroad a respect for trees could
have been devised than the setting apart of
a special day for tree-planting, to be known
as "Arbor day" The early American settler
was the arch enemy of the forest He was
compelled to be so from the circumstances of
his position. The entire surface of the els
Mississippi states was covered with trees
primeval forest surrounded the white man in
all directions to plant a patch of corn or to
SOW field of wheat he must make clearing.
The forest, too, concealed the Indian, and,
while it stood in proximity to the settlers
cabin, enabled the willy foe to creep upon
him unawares. Hence an American colonist
became primarily a newer down of thick
trees, a man who carried upon his shoulder
the great American ak, and kept it sharp.
Probably the first colonists in all countries,
though unpOssessed of improved cutting.
tools, were great tree-destroyers Ancient
authors let us know that Asia Minor. Greece.
Thrace, Macedonia, Italy and Spain were once
thictly forested and possessed more fertile
and moister climate than they now have.
Even Northern Africa was once a land of ex-
uberant vegetation. But man needs fields not
forests, to reside in, and in the days of i'm
perfect civilization Scarcely over yeO he
deemed that to cut down grove was to gain
field, and that to clear away a forest was
an act as beneficial as to drain a swamp.
This clearance continued until vast regions
became deforested, the regular distribution
of the rainfall changed into a caprcious one,
too much wet in some districts, too little in
others, and everywhere (where trees we're alb.
senD an alienation of drought with torrents
and floods. Man was slow to learn the les
son. Many nations learned it not, and 10
consequence, sank in numbers to mere tribes
All the nations that have swept over Western
Asia can be found there yet, but they do not
increase because their soil was struck by the
action of their ancestors with the curse of
barrenness, and they do nothing to stav the
curse Central and Northern Europe are
still lands of trees Tree destruction was
rife in them until comparatively recent years,
but the total destruction of the forests was
prevented-(D by the feudal system, with its
preserves and parks, and the genius for
hunting. which possessed the peoples and
(2) in later years by the practical observation
that land denuded of trees became barren.
and by the gradual growth of tree preserva.
ton and tree culture. The various European
societies have years ago cried halt in tree
destruction, aud have replanted large areas
that we're once denuded. 1t is now recog-
nized that, though a wood is not q wheat
former shelter from wind storms and equali-
cation of moisture, and that man and his do
nestle animals are also directly dependent
for their health up the presence of trees in
their vicinity. In England ths hawthorn
hedge, with its row of oaks, elms and ashes,
mingles woodland with arabic land in a way
that is both pleasant to the eye and benz fetal
to the soil.
Last of the lands to learn the lesson of
forestry, we of the United States must vet
learn it. Commencing on the Eastern sea
board and in those Western states where trees
are scarce, arboriculture will gradually take
hold upon the entire nation and even the
numbering communities who have hitherto
looked upon forest only as something out
OF which to cut as much as possible in as lit
tie space of time as possible, and who have
recklessy destroyed the young growth in
their rude methods of getting out the older,
will either learn wisdom or be taught it by
the hand of the law, administered by the
representative of public too enlightened to
permit one of the greatest sources of Amer.
ican wealth to be wasted in a conscienceless
struggle for riches. The history of the for
ests OF many states is sad one. The first
growth has entirely disappeared; what wood
remains is second growth, or even third.
Forest fires, almost always preventable, waste
almost as much as the lumbermen. Yet
new growth increases rapidly where permit
ted, and by the enforcement of iudicious
regulations and the exercise of judicious care
the increase by growth Of each year could be
made to balance the needful tree consump.
ton OF that year. PHILADELPHIA Record.