St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-12-25

woods, and are compelled to draw
much of their supply from Canada
and the West. California
still possesses her magnificent
Sequoias, which attain when full
grown an average height OF 275 feet
and a girth of 20 feet at six feet from
| the ground - Wood-cutters
and saw mills are however busy at
work converting the valuable
| Sequoias into marketable lumber,
and sheep grazing and fires kindled
by the lumbermen are effectually de-
writes in 1S7S-"The devastation of
the Californian forest is proceeding
at a rate which is utterly incredible
except to an eyewitness. 1t is true
that few of the most insignificant
| groves of the big trees at the north
ern extreme of its range are protected
| by the state Legislature, and a law
has been enacted forbidding the fell
| ing of trees over 5 feet in diameter;
but there is no law TO prevent the
cutting or burning of the saplings,
on which The perpetuation of the
grove depends, or to prevent the
burning of the old trees, which, if
| they do escape the fire, will succumb
to the drought which the sweeping
away of the environing forest will
occasion"
From this sketch of the principal
lorest lands of the world it appears
fhat, although the progress of civil
/ izatiOn and the increase of the pOpu-
lation have greatly diminished the
area of forests in many countries,
they still cover a large portion of
the earth's surface, and the necessity
of maintaining them is now generally
recognized. 1t is beyond doubt that
these vast wooded tracts affect most
powerfully the economy OF the globe.
The direct influences may be sum-
married. from the results arrived at
by Humboldt and others: % By
screening The soil from the heat of
the suns rays; GU by the immense
surface these leaves offer to the COOL
ing process of radiation; and 90 by
the cOpiOuS evaporation OF moisture
from the leaves. Some of the indirect
benefits which thus accrue from the
presence of forests may be mentioned,
such as the maintenance of equable
temperature and humidity, the at
fording of protection and shelter,
the control of the regular flow of
rivers, and the supply of perennial
springs which fertilize and beautify
the country. 1t is the climatic and
physical Importance of a due proper
ton of wooded land, independent of
the utility of forest products in in
Vulnerable arts which now contrib
ute to our comfort and progress.
that has at length awakened most
of the civilized governments to the
necessity of protecting forests from
ruthless spoliation. The following
general conclusions, adopted in 1851
by the British association committee
already referred to, contain princi-
pies which, although limited in the
first instance to British India, have
been found more or less applicable to
all countries:
Il. That over large portions OF
the globe there is still an almost un-
controlled destruction of the indi-
genous forests in progress from the
wasteful habits of the population.
2. That where conservancy has
been introduced, considerable inn
provement has already taken place.
3. That these improvements may
be extended by a rigid enforcement
of the present regulat tons and the
enactment of additional provisions
of the following character, viz: Care
full maintenance of the forest by
valuation surveys and working
plans, and by the preservation of
seedlings in place of mature trees
emOved-nurseries being established;
prohibition of cutting till trees are
well grown, with rare and special
exceptions for peculiar purposes:
and provision, in the case of trees
yielding gums, resins or other valua
pie products, that greater care be
taken in tapping or nOtching the
trees, most serious damage in some
countries resulting in neglect from
this operation.
f. That special attention should
be given to the preservation and
maintenance of the forests occupying
tracts unsuited for other culture,
whether by reason of altitude or
peculiarities of physical structure.
5. That in country to which the
maintenance of its water supplies is
of extreme Importance, the indis-
criminate clearing of forests around
the localities whence those supplies
are derived is greatly to be depre
Gated.
6. Thatit is a duty to prevent the
excessive waste of wood, the timbers
useful for building and manufactures
being preserved and husbanded.
Z. That as much local ignorance
prevails as to the number and nature
of valuable forests products, meas
ures should be taken to supply
through the officers in charge inform
alton calculated to diminish such
ignorance.