Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-28

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each one of us; that "we have no use for
dates, documents, muniments and pedi-
grees"; that we need to care nothing as to
when or where Shakespeare was born, or
how he lived
The American Horticultural Association,
at its San Jose session, convinced that tree
preservation means cultivation of bird en-
emies of fruit pests and encouragement of
horticulture, has adoped a memorial to
Congress upon the subject of forestry, that
certainly will command the earnest and
thoughtful attention of the National Leg
islature. 1t is true that the Federal Gov
eminent has set guards about its timber
preserves, but the testimony is agreed that
in the majority of cases they are as yet in
adequate to prevent timber-destructio
TIE hlaws against timber vandalism are
severe, but it has been very rare that Of
tenders fell within the grasp Of the law.
Indeed, poaching upon "Uncle Sans )"
forests has been, in timber sections, looked
upon with an amused eye and few frowns.
Congress spent great deal of money in
sending Franklin B. Hough to Europe
to study at his leisure the forestry ques-
ton there, and after an examination of our
own forestry conditions, to make full re-
port. He did so, and it is found in two
elaborate volumes, printed by the Govern
ment in 1877 These books are of the
and the conclusions drawn should have
convinced the people of the United States
at once of the danger of further neglect of
our forests. But, though eleven years
have passed since the report of Mr.. Hough
was filed, we have not done enough in the
way of forest preservation to Justify
pamphlet record, though we have made
some progress and just now promise good
deal more. Several of the States, however,
profted by the Hough reports, and by ex-
perience and took decisive action, but in
most cases not until very great part of
their timber had been ruthlessly destroyed
For twelve years labored efforts to rouse
| California to realization of the danger
of quietude concerning tree culture and
denudation of wooded slopes failed Four
years ago feeble forcible movement, look
ing to preservation of timber sections Dor
dering upon Lake Tahoe was inaugurated.
That was followed by the establishment of
the Forestry Commission, which has not
been able 10 do very much as yet, and then
came Mr.. Millers and General Towards
momentary enthusiasm, which promised
something practicable, which has not yet
been realized. The Horticultural Associ-
alton gives its support to the declaration
that
A due proportion of forest varying from one
fourth to one-ffth of the area of a given To-
caity, is essential to secure the largest agricult
ural returns and the maintenance of the largest
population in the whole district. and that de-
forestation exceeding this proportion dimin-
ishes the total output of crops even though the
cultivated area be increased, and consequently
diminishes the capacity of the land to support
population; and that tree destruction without
regard to the maintenance of the reproductive
power of the forest, causes Irregularities and
uncertainty in the rainfall, diminished wood
and lumber supply for the future, diminished
humidity of the air, diminished health of the
people-eSpecaiy through fhc p -oduction OF
malarial Observation-Disclosures springs and sum-
mer fiow of streams used for navigation and
irrigation, increased extremes of heat and cold.
of drought and flood. and, in mountainous
countries like California, cs1ses the produc-
ton OF torrents that carry debris from the
denuded watersheds to cover and destroy fertile
valley lands below; and that the present Gov
eminent land laws furnish neither an adequate
means of carrying on the lumber industry nor
any means for protecting the watersheds, and,
consequently, the irrigators and inland navi-
gators, nor the climate and crops of the country.
Upon this declaration the Association
calls the attention of Congress to the sub
ject of forest preservation as one of vital
importance to all the country. 1t then
proceeds to point out the need of reserva-
ton, and some methods of preservation
for the present, not necessary now to con-
slider. This memorial will have much IN
fuence with Congress, from the fact that
the members of our national Legislature
are very much more broadly informed
upon the subject than ever before, and be-
| cause their constituencies are much more
| Intelligent upon the need of horticulture
| and forest preservation from fire, the
stock-herder and reckless use of the ak.
| 1t is, for instance, impossible to conceive of
Representatives from New York, Ohio,
| Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin. Pennsylvania,
Virginia, Michigan, Maryland, Indiana,
California and Kentucky opposing any
reasonable forestry measure, as the people
of those States have pronounced so en-
phatically in favor of forest preservation.
| All such memorials as that referred to
are evidences of the growing sentiment
that in the United States Forestry an no
longer be neglected. Arbor days will
soon be established in every State in the
Union, if we except perhaps FIolid and
Maine, where the need is less felt. The
Legislatures each year will strengthen the
forestry laws and enlarge their operation,
aud it is not too much to look forward ;,
that in 4 comparatively brief time We will
have Foresters of skill and experience
appointed to guard timber from useless
destruction, not be too sanguine of the
growth of the sentiment the study of the
forestry question encourages, when we
look forward to the early establishment of
forestry schools under State, and possibly
Federal patronage.
IL the January number of the Univer-
salist Quarterly Rerier 4 writer, signing
Rev. olney Darling, has proved to the
world how unjust and illiheral even a man
Of the pulpit may be. Mr. Darling is a
writer of ability, and, We assume. must be
in sympathy on general lines with literary
workers: but he has run OF into the alb
surd doctrine that when writer puts the
product of his labor before the world, he