The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-04-20

member of the club stated that he had known
a small spring branch to dry up leaving an Old
stone spring house useless, after the wood had
been cleared about the source of the spring aud
along its course. That in visiting his native val
ley after intervals, where they are constantly
stripping the mountains of the forests to burn
TO charcoal TO reduce the iron of that section he
noticed the perceptible diminution of the
streams, and the shrinkage of the natural lakes
with which the country abounds.
1t is considered proven that the forests dimlu-
ish the frequency and violence of floods, by re-
tarding the melting of SHOWS in spring. and by re-
tanning in the soil the powerful rains of summer,
which otherwise rushing down the MIL sides. tear
up and carry away tn soil. Hence keep the
sleeper hills sides in wood, cease to pillow them,
plant them to lOcusts, cedar or chestnut. t. the
most useful or marketable timber, and SO make
them II source OF permanent and incre ising reve
nue..
WGare taught that the oil forests are no long
er improving, that the old ana mature trees
should he cut for lumber. timber or fuel TO let
the light and heat in for the younger growth.
which is being retarded or killed outright, by
those old trees which are themselves now deteri-
Grating. and meantime in suitable soils and
places, TO clear away all, anu plant more valuu-
bic timber.
statistics were read showing what great
revenues some European RoTernments derive
from large tracts of forests cared for by trained
officials, men educated for this work. 1t Is shown
that only the better class of what are meadow
lands yields a greater revenue in period OF -
years, than equal acres of well cared for forest.
A member of the club spoke of lately observ-
ing the surrounding country from a point of
considerable elevation somewhere here in Har-
ford, and of being impressed that great proper
tion of the land about here was still in forest
The remark was made in answer to our inquiry
whether the canning industry were not helping
to clear our forest land very fast. Our elevations
hide extended areas of cleared fields. From in :
quirics made it is thought that in the thIckly
populated districts of Hartford not more than
from One-Seyenth 10 one eighth remains in
forests. In other sections there are some large
tracts more or less thickly wooded, that increase
this ratio.
We are told tina cannars nroF,r c,oi ,,;ii :, "a
noticeable that there is Il large consumption OF
wood for this purpose.
1t is interesting to note that in an instrument
entitled, conditions and concessions agreed upon
by William Penn, proprietor and governor OF the
province of Pennsylvania, and those who are
adventures aud purchasers in said province,
dated July llth, 1851, the following occurs:
xviii. In clearing the ground, care be taken
to leave one acre OF trees for every five cleared,
ELK and shipping
II is said that this condition remained dead
letter. Scientific forestry now asks for % per
cent. OF the entire area in forest.
IL is stated that a few years ago a number OF
scientist made calculation as to the amount of
water given to the atmosphere by the Washing
ton elm, Cambridge, Mass. They calculated that
the leaves of that tree would cover over 100000
square feet of surface, and that they gave out
every fair day, during the growing season, Ii 500
lbs. or ~ tons of water. Suppose 1t possible that
the scientists have here MADE an error in excess
! of half the weight absolutely exhaled by the
leaves OF this single tree, what moderating intiu
| ence on heat and dryness of summer. and also on
the cold OF winter. through shelter, and excessive
moisture in the wood soil, large areas of forest
must exert.
In this connection member called attention
| to the iact that while in the lower sections ol
| Wisconsin, mostly priarie country. the mercury
| often freezes some time during the winter, 50t
miles further north in the pine forests south of
Lake superior greater cold than ten degrees
| below zero Is very rarely experienced. Here the
Vapor of the great lake. which never fret yes over
| powerfully assists the forests to moderate the
/ cold.
| When the western plains are fairly sheltered
| by frequent intervals of planted forests, and
through forestry associations and arbor days
this seems possible thing in the not very distant
| future, we may then learn, perhaps, how much
we owe our forests for immunity from lorna.
| docs.
| In connection with this subject Mr.. BOVINE
land with the basket or osier willow, some years
ago, some S25 per year had been realized from It,
Cattle will browse it and destroy it, back berries
also run it out. Like the ordinary forests, for
| the best results II must be cared for G. G. G.