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

Wednesday evening, the paper, rs elsewhere
stated was given by e1 Gov. Holbrook on
Forestry The paper was Sd able and in.
terestinR discussion Of the whole subject in
Guiding the preservation Of our forests and
their cultivation. The subject had peculiar
Thickness and coming from the pen Of one
SO widely known, who has given the best
years Of long life to the careful study Of
this and kindred subjects, ii carried with II
unusual force and conviction As the most
pertinent matter which could be introduced
at the present time in view Of the near Rp-
proaoh Of the Governors srbor-day we are
glad to abstract several Of its most essential
and practical parts. The necessary work
Of the early settlers, Gov Holhrook said
was the clearing of the forests but the
thoughtlessness Of their Successors has
brought a real danger to the country. This
has come through the indscrimate use of the
axe
go where viii, compelled to look upon
rough lands. tops and activities Of hills inaccess-
IDLE for profitable cultivation which should have been
reserved perpetually for the production Of wood
timber but which hsve been swept Of their natural
covering and fertility, and turned into pastures af-
fording but scauty returns the animus attempt
uuproductiye year by year. The error has been IN
clearing these lands permanently Had the old growth
been removed and converted into wood and lumber
and the land left to itself With a second
growth Of trees Eprouting up Of themselves. that
would probably have been good husbandry. Many
men are still living, al our country. who. had
they thus practced with their lands Of TINS descrp
ton, would now have the original fertility Of the
land left. and with % q handsome, thrifty second
growth Of trees, worth perhaps as much already as
the original growth cleared away. and worth much
more than All tbev have derived from its use A.
n f0-nnv nrur iH
be worth more TO sell or 20 hand down 10 hers than
it now is. Besides, there other very important
interests affecting the country generally shall
see further on, which would have been much better
promoted had the fores-baaring lands been thus pre-
served
Several interesting illustrations were given
Of the way il which sterile hillsides had
been restored to fertility by the judicious
planting Of trees. The effects on the water
supply were thus described
"A due proportion Of forest III equAhEing moisture
and preserving our springs and streams well IS
stTaning the sudden rise and overflow OF our rivers
Is well known 10 observing mel. Several hne springs
aud little trout brooks, which were familiar friends
IN our b1yhoOd. have either entirely disappeared OF
are only seen Tor q brief season in the spring.
'In wet the decaying leaves and spongy soil
Of woodlands retain large proportion Of the falling
rains and give back the moisture il time Of drouth
f 10y evaporation or through the medium OF springs
They thus both c.ecE the sudden fow Of water from
tue surface into the streams and low grounds. and
prevent the drouths Of summer from parching our
pastures and drying up the rivulets which water
them on the other hand. where too large proper
on Of the surface barred Of wood the action Of the
summer sun and wind scurches the hills which are no
longer shaded sheltered by trees the springs and
riyuiets that found their supply the moist soil OF
the forest disappear and the farmer IS obliged 10 sur
render his meadows TO his cattle, which can nc
longer md food in his pastures and sometimes even
TO drive them miles 20 water. Again the vernal and
autumnal rains, and the melting SHOWS OF winter 10
longer intercepted and absorbed by the leaves the
open soil Of the woods, but falling everywhere upon
CLuuuratlFeV uaru surface. nov swiftly
over the smooth ground, washing away the Yepeta
mould they seek their natural outlets fiji every "a
vine with torrent. washing deep and ugly Eulhes
aud swelling the rivers to an enormous and often DE-
strnctive overflow.
at rs q common remark nov by farmers OWNING
meadows subject to overflow that the sediment left
them by the water nearly ferfiztnr as il
used to be, the deposit being composed more largely
Of sand and the coarse wash from hillsdsE. ravnef
and gulches whereas it used TO be the richer vast
from woodlands
In olden times the hat-bottumed freight boats used
to run regular trips from Brattleboro and 9th
er towns below 20 Hartford, Conn. and back com.
mencing their passages up and down the river ear,
in the summer and continuing them till winter wealth
er set il. They carried all sorts Of produce ant
merchandise, and this mode the principal foi
exchanging heavy treights with the sesboRrd. Nov
il would be simply impossible such boats Rftei
the spring flush Of water has subsidized, even though
no dams and locks had Attery been built to obstruc
their passage.
The reckless destruction Of which has beer
50 generally praeticed country is bearing frui
IL the terrible spring and autumn floods which latter
ly have afflicted many sections-purticulnrly tina
through which the Ohio river and its afanents nov
To deforest the mountains and hisdes is to devot,
them to barrenness the valleys to food and both 4
parching drouth when drOuth is most injurious"
After speaking of the marked and unfsvo
rsble effects on the climate Of denuding tn,
forests, quoting from Prof Sargent of Har
ward University in illustration of his state
ments, Gov Holbrook proceeded to speak O
the marvellous results which have been reach
ed in the west through the planting of trees
The experiments made in New England hav
been equally successful though undertake
for different purpose
''several successful experiments have been mad
within my knowledge in tins section III improvin
rugged and exhausted lands by planting them ont 4
trees Within sight Of this place Is knoll or hilsid
that has been completely renovHted by plantation
the white locust. The soil originally q coarse
worthless gravel barren OF heritage Of any kind
remember that the proprietor, while setting out tn
little trees or sprouts, was laughed Al by neirhbo
for attempting to grow trees TINS barren hillside
but he dug holes where the trees were to be plante
out and filed them with rotten chip dirt in winch h
set the trees. The locusts got root End, although
their growth al frst SLOW and feeble they grRdu
ally formed soil by the annual shedding Of thei
leaves. As the soil thus became strengthened tbei
growth became more vigorous shoots spraue NJ
in al directions from the roots ana after while clio
yer and other grasses began to appear Oh the edge
and more open spots Of the grove. For many yeHrs
was curious 20 observe the gradual Improvement o
this land. The grass on the more open spots. wher
II udQ SUI anu Iulls became very tuLurlaut
would yield at the rate Of more than ton Of nay q
the acre. The locust wonderfully endoWs 3 poor sol
with new energy and fertility. II seems 70 make IL
demands for nourishment more largely upon the NJ
moBphere than any other kind Of tree ana gains foot
hold IL soils absolutely barren Of fertility. Then
again, its leaves small with rough edges lyiui
perfectly still where they fall while those OF most ON
er trees are blown about by the winds collecting il
hollows and IN large heaps The leaves OF the Icons
make soft carpet the surface of the ground
very elastic and pleasant TO walk upon. Whenever
locust tree grows IN & pasture, the cattle will fee
down the grass under it closer than anywhere in tn
open ground. The locust ID Of very great value 70
fencing purposes and tor timber especially where du
rAnllliy ls desired; NO other tiHoer excepting re
cedar Will Inst as long IN and near the ground
other places exposed 10 decay. ] once knew locus
Rste-post that lasted in the ground for 90 years
The chestnut is a valuable tree to plant
and grows rapidly il favored locations Il
some parts Of New England groves OF blacl
walnuts have been planted and yielde,
handsome returns.
$50 lar the improvement OF waste land by plant
ing out wood and timber IL concerned the great
est success viii be attained by choosing those tind
OF trees most naturally adapted TO the soil; still,
might be more desirable TO grow partic
MAR kinds, or some special kind for certain marx
'iBut in regard TO the relative improving power O
the several species OF trees the most rational natura
rule by which practice should be guided seems Z
be contained IL these three propositions:
!. That the soil will be most improved by thos
trees which thrive best upon it,
.. Among those which thrive equally, by such 4
yield the largest produce Of leEyes, and
4 3. Among such as yield equal weight Of leaves
by those whose leaves the largest proportion
OF inorganic mktter-which bring up from beneath
that ana spread the surface largest quaint
ty, the materials OF fertile soil.
'The mode in which the lower branches Of the IL
planted woodland gradually spread out and interlAce
and ultimately oYershadoW the surface, IL not with
out its influence upon the Improvement Of the sol
All vegetation being prevented, the land, besides re
ceiving yearly manure of vegetable mould, is mad
to lie for many years In uninterrupted naked faloV
II s sheltered also from the beating Of the randrous
which descend slowly ana gently upon it, bearinl
principles OF fertility instead Of washing out the va
liable saline substances II may contain. Beneath IN
overwhelming branches Of forest the soil is ais
protected from the wind and 10 this protection spren
gel attributes much Of that rapid Improvement 3
generally experienced where lands art covered wit
wood. The winds bear along particles OF earthly mat
ter which they deposit IN the stin forests and thu
gradually form soil even on the most naked places
As being the most obvious means of ineul
eating an appreciation of the importance o
the subject of forestry, Gov. Holbrook ex
pressed the belief that in the good time com
ing ii will be taught as q science in our high
or schools and academies along with all tn
fundamental principles involved in the sub
ject In conclusion he eloguently said
''Who that has ever looked out upon primeyal for
est forget the feeling Of admiration, mingled III
IND Waun THO Hktaa HnuH