Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-08-12
THE SESSION ENDED.
Third and Last Day q the fifth An
nual Session OF lhA t+riral
Horticultural Society.
valuable Essay ON Forestry w Chief u. r.
Fernow-Intersssing Address By Chief
II. n. Van Deman OF tho U. $. Service.


Texas Horticultural society opened yes
terday at 3 O'Clock q. M, President Veal
IN the chair.
The committee appointed yesterday to
formulate memorial to the state legisla-
ture on the subject OF establishing state
association, reported TO the body that
they recommended that delegates be ap-
pointed TO meet in Dallas In convention,
to discuss and act upon this matter, such
meeting to be held October 2s, 1856, at
the Merchants exchange OF that city. The
committees report WAS adopted Much
discussion ensued relative TO the basis of
representation, resulting in the appoint
ment by the president of the following
gentlemen, whose duty II vii be Ia In.
vite all Interested in horticulture to be
present at Dallas the appointees are,
7. V. Munson OF the North Texas Horti-
Cultural society, Col. w. w Ross Of the
Pilot Point society, Col. Whitaker
of the East Texas society, and J. r. John
son of the Central Texas society.
Mr.. johnson delivered an interesting
essay on the japanese persimmon, enter
ing into description OF his handling Of
the fruit, and highly recommended 1t for
Texas.
Gov. Crockett, upon the subjecto of fruit
growing, related horticultural history in
this state since lS4S, and commented on
the excellence Of the Texas advancement
in this direction.
The balance of the morning session was
devoted to the thorough and lively dis.
enssion OF subjects most vital to the hor-
ticulture of the state.
The essays and entire proceedings OF
the body will be duly published in pam
phlet form. THE GAZETTE regrets that
the present pressure upon its space pre-
vents more than the presentation this
morning of the excellent essay ON tree
culture from B. Il. Fernow Of the forestry
division, United States department OF
agriculture, which was delivered at the
afternoon session, and the address made
in person by Ii. e. Van Deman, chief Of
the genealogical division Of the United
States department of agriculture.
MIR. FERNow's ESSAY,
was read by the secretary, as follows
u. S. DEPARTMENT or AcRicULrURE,)
FORESTRY DIVISION,
WASHINGTON, July ~, 1856.
TO the Central Texas Horticultural
Society GENTLENEN-T regret not to be
able TO follow the kind invitation of your
secretary to address your meeting az
Fort Worth in pc son.
My duties here, TO which | have been
only lately called,and the distance of your
meeting place, prevent my attendance.
may not even, as requested, take the
Time of preparing paper worthy to be
presented to a body Of practical horti-
cultursts and must confine myself TO
shortly state few thoughts that occur to
me In connection with the forestry ques-
ton In your state.
1t would be insinuating low degree Of
advancement were to dwell before your
body on the deslrability Of shelterbelt
and ornamental planting for Western
Texas as means OF enhancing
the value of your broad treeless
acres for farming as well as for
cattle raising, but | may be allowed to
express my conviction, that before long
Texas even, with its $4,000, 100000 feet
of pine timber, estimated as standing in
its eastern counties, will have to grow
timber for its home supply. This
enormous amount of timber would
hardly suffice to supply the MARKET OF the
United States for three years; and before
your great empire state will have half
the population which its vast and fertile
eXpanse can harbor, not stick will be
left of virgin timber, which the require
ments of the older states have not pre-
empted.
Were It not, therefore, that life on the
open prairie is made more endurable for
cattle and man, that agricultural crops
are benefited, being tempered by cold
and dry blasts and climatic conditions
modified by timber belts and
groves, the mere economical aspect OF
forest planting 1t is timely now to
consider.
In countries, where climatic conditions
and the absence of disturbing elements,
like the tlring savages and roaming cat
Tie, have 'avored forest grow hy -ctJresta-
ton is comparatively easy task, as there
can be little doubt what kinds will grow
and how they should. be planted, cared
for and managed. This may easily be
learned by a sharp observer in the native
woods.
But selection, method OF cultivation
and aftercare Of timber5 for the climatic
conditions OF the treeless plains is very
different and difficult matter and can al
most only be decided by experiment.
The more necessary it Is to go to work
the more ueslrapie that
such body OF horticulturists as you rep.
resent should settle upon some plan OF
rational, well considered experiments
ton, SO as to insure the quick
est answer to our experiments and
reduce the necessary amount oil
failure to minimum The 6rst question
to settle is: What kind of timbers VIII
grow in your climate and soil conditions!
The latter need be considered only In
their physical aspects, Given poor soil
with sufficient water supply and drain
age, almost any tree will astonish You
with its rapid growth. But while 1t may
be well fo- a quick result In covering
given area with shade, to grow the cotton
wood and box-elder and other interior
timbers, the second question should be
considered simultaneously: What yalus-
BILE trees will grow and grow well and be-
come profitable soonest3 And the list Of
these NAV not be made out from those
lands alone which we find in our native
home In the older states. There may De
some species that are well enough Tor the
reforestation Of the plain, but there may
he more desirable ones somewhere else,
and while we are experimenting, let
ne not be guided by our pre-
conceived notions, but try broadly
49, ahnvvu ItEplilO00 OF