Arizona weekly enterprise., 1888-01-28
FOREST POLICY OF JAPAN.
A Bavarian Iavited to Direct It-Prep-
 aration for Timber Supply.

 aration for Timber Supply. Not long ago, without any flourish of | announcement or departure, a quiet, scholarly gentleman in the vigor of early manhood passed through this city on an important mission to Japan, where he is
 to give instruction in the science and practice of forestry as known in the best schools of Europe, and to direct to a cer-
 tain extent the forest policy of the en-
 pire. Dr. Heinrich Mayr is forest off,
 cer of the Bavarian government and lec-
 turer on sylviculture in the University of 1 Munich. Two years ago he crossed the 1 United States through the Lake region | and the northwest to Oregon, and now | he proposes to study the southern forests,
 going through the Allegheny region and | crossing Texas to California. This is in
 preparation for report to his govern
 ment on American forests. From San
 Francisco he will sail to Japan, where he will be professor of sylviculture and | forest botany in the Univaroity of Tolrio,
 besides taking charge of the actual forest
 work of the empire during an extended
 leave of absence from his post in Bavaria.
 In reply to some inquiries by reporter
 Dr, Mayr said that although there was
 abundant timber in Japan and wonder
 full richness in arborescent species when
 compared with the sylva of Europe, still
 serious inroads had been made upon the
 forest wealth of the empire. During the l civil war many forests owned by the
 daimios were destroyed, and the govern
 ment intended to restore them. Besides
 this many of tine mountain slopes, al-
 though thickly wooded, were clothed
 with species not esteemed valuable.
 There are vast stretches of beechwoods,
 the trees being apparently identical
 botanically with the European beech, al
 though the wood is lighter in color. Beech is considered a useful wood in
 Europe, but there are many better kinds
 in Japan, and. the government proposes
 to substitute some of these for the in-
 ferior species.
 Notable among the valuable timber
 trees is the cryptomesia, confer, speci-
 mems of which are not rare i'll the orna-
 mental plantations of this country. A
 few of them are growing in the Ramble
 of Central Park. This tree IS closely
 allied to the American sequoias, the red
 wood and the big trees. When a traveller
 fresh from the Sierras first sees forest
 of cryptomesia he will have no other
 thought liuIi LIltC IIleS dlC iuolillCe4 " Alii
 the American trees. They have, too, all
 the good qualities of redwood-light,
 straight grained, easily worked, durable.
 Besides these species of planera, some
 of the oaks and perhaps some other de-
 ciduous trees will be used to supplant the
 beech It will be a delicate undertaking
 to make such sweeping transformation
 in the forest growth over large areas
 without causing violent disturbance in
 the natural forces which have been ad- , iusting themselves into balance during } centuries. But the Japanese government
 appreciates this and is preparing for the . work most thoroughly and cautiously.
 any of those physical disasters which , huve followed ti1o deforrstins of high lands in other countries, Dr. Mayr said: , '.Oh, yes. This preparation for tim } ber supply is only one reason for the present interest in forestry in Japan. ! The growth of railroads opening up new t markets for forest products and means of 2 transporting them Is an immediate occa- sion for this sharp looking after their r resources by long sighted business peo- ple But the country is already suffer 7 ing from torrents where the wood has r been stripped from the high slopes. The calamity is not so serious as 1t is in other e parts of the world, in southeastern 1 France, for instance, where millions lit : orally are expended every year ill an al J most hopeless struggle with devastating p floods.
 , But what has happened and is plainly d threatened has decided the government s to take prompt actisn and recover the ' bare heights. Near Kiota. for example y within less than fifty years the forest Ina: s been cleared from portion of the higl n mountains about the city and the resul a is too evident. The river flowing dow1 . from this deforested slope, and crossing ; T plain say fifteen miles to the sea. sool
 began to roll down more loosened stone l. and gravel and earth after the rainy sea g son had swollen it. As the river bet n was lifted by this deposit, the people, t. IS restrain 1t from overdowing the plains ol rt either side, began to build up barriers ol h its banks. Then as more woods wer y felled the torrent became more suddel y and violent, owing to decreased obstruc Id ton. The waterway was gradually hlle le in with washings from the mountain s. compelling another and another embark or ment on either side as the bottom wa n raised, until now the stream run e. between artificial banks on the top of IS long. straight causeway fifty feet high. er New York Tribune.