Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13
FREE CULTURE AND BENEFITS RE
SULTING.

10 Tie E0ltOf OF the EA"iE-
Forest trees are all worthy the consid-
Grafton of all engaged in agricultural
pursuits as well as all others. Ii Oh
every section and half section line, forest
trees were planted all over the state the
climate in the course of time would be
almost entirely changed. Those heavy
driving, chilly winds OF the winter would
be entirely broken, and the hot winds OF
summer overcome; and thereby the value
of lands and the wealth Of the state in
creased at least one third. In portions
of the country where lands are too wet
TO be productive tileing Overcomes the
difficulty. Where the lands are unpro-
ductive for want of rain irrigation Is
resorted to. Why not when the winds
sweep over vast extent of country like
this in the winter, chilling to death stock
and endangering and causing so much
suffering among men; and IN the sum-
mer scorching vegetation and rapidly
drying up and sweeping away the mois-
ture in the earth, produced by rams.
Why not, l would ask, obstruct and
temper these winds, that drive the snow
from the unprotected fields, drifting it
into the hollows, ravineS and cannOns,
and in the summer time rObblng the
fields of the much needed moisture just
at the time most needed for maturing
and perfecting the crop.
But how can this be remedied: We
would answer. by forest trees and hedges
planted nigh each other. so as to break
the onward rushing current. If forest
trees of some height were standing in
line around every quarter section where
timber is lacking they would absorb a
vast amount Of heat in the hot part of
the season and lessen the need of so fire.
quent rains. But it might be objected
that when these trees become large that
they would take up too much ground. i
physician who had retired was accOsted
by patient who said to him: You have
quit practice, have you, doctor? Yes.
Well, said the man, | suppose you con-
Guided you had killed men enough. Kill
ed men enough: said the doctor: | guess
| have saved great many more
than have ever killed. So with the for
est trees, they might kill some growing
crop, but they would save the life and
give vitality to ten times as much as they
would destroy or kill. The same might
be SAID of the hedge-the protection it
gives is worth five times as much as the
ground it occupies.
Admitting that all that has been pre-
scented is true, individual effort can do
but little. To make it general, legisla-
tive action is necessary. 1t must be en-
couraged and fostered by legislation and
such inducements held out as to influ-
ence every owner of land to
90 to work at setting ont trees
upon every section and half section line,
so that one mans row of trees will con-
meet with that of another till the whole
vast prairie of the state shall have far
reaching lines of .tresS running north
SOUTH east and west. Is this too great a
work to undertake: The aggregate ex-
pense would look large, but it would be
very small to each individual owner of
100 acres or more. The aggreeat profits
and advantages to the state would be
millions; to individuals in proportion.
Why is it that Illinois and Iowa have
not the same heavy, bleak winds they
had in the first settlement of the coun-
try: The hedges, forest trees, fruit trees
and improvements will answer why
Besides, if forest trees were made gen
eral would they not tend to increase the
rainfall, increasing the yield of grain
and helping the condition of the soil for
grass:
| have given utterance TO these
thoughts upon this subject with the hope
that 1t might awaken in the public mind
thoughts of that which appears to me
full of meaning and big with importance,
and if carried out far reaching in good
results. ]. S. ANDREWES.