Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-12-05

!
dia, above referred TO, as it is well worth
the reading of every citizen:
"Forests are of the greatest importance
in the general economy of the globe, in
fuencng the humidity of the air and the
soil, mitigating the extremes of heat and
cold affording shelter to man and beast
and enrching the soil on which they
grow. Trees supply timber and fuel to
man and furnish him with vast variety |
of economical products.
"The physical history of every country
proves ncontestiby that moderate ex-
tent of forest promotes in a high degree
both its agricultural and its manufacture
ing interests, as well as the productive
, resources of the country at large; and
the beneficial influence of forests in a
physical, economic and hygienic aspect
| is now receiving more of the attention its
Importance deserves. The countries
bordering the Mediterranean-Spain,
France, Italy and Turkey-have all suf-
r fered in marked degree from the reck-
r less and wholesale destruction of the
! WOOuS WHICH, SONt'tu tnC
e slopes, and many springs which formerly
existed under the shelter of the forests
have now wholly disappeared. Though
o the insular position and moist climate of
. the British Isles save them from suffering
: from the want of forest in an equal degree
a with Continental nations, the Anglo
+ Saxon race has been slow to appreciate
y the value of the forests with which
: nature has so literally clothed the earth,
! and the history of North America, South
It Africa, Australia and New Zealand bears
q testimony to the same ilnprovdence and
\ need of consideration. There can be no
n doubt that one of the causes of the ter
.. rible famines in India and China is the
!. unwise denudation of mountain slopes
= where the forests formerly absorbed a
s large portion of the rainfall which now
Ia quickly runs off to the sea. =. Forest
If science constitutes separate branch OF
10 education in various countries of Europe
n The first technical instruction was given
,r in the Hartz forest, and Germany has
ve taken the lead in developing wise fores,
20 administration. France, Italy, Sweder
NJ and Russia have successfully established
NJ forest academies, and now the conserva
+ ton of woodland occupies the Legislature
M of almost all civilized lands. E.
no I'm France the term of maturity fol
N cutting a forest is determined with grea
no care by a committee of skilled officers
n and is usually divided into periods of 81
Id many years each. The term of the oal
IN forest, for example, say $50 years, il
to divided into five periods of thirty years
lie Each series of years represents so man.
Nv blocks or portions of forest, and tn
No. yearly cuttings are arranged so as t.
no. cover a certain extent of ground, an
ar when one block has been felled anothe
MI reaches maturity. France has state dc
m. partment for the administration of tn
.r- forests, and a very detailed code of fores
-. sin Germany forestry is eagerly 70
lowed as profession, and forest acadt
=, mics are numerous and well organized
49, The examination of candidates is yer
- strict. and the result of the system ha
been most beneficial. In forest scienC
Germany is far advanced and the literi
va ture is specially rich. Every tract Is carr
- fully surveyed and treated on a workin
plan made with great eXactness as to a,
49,. tual details and expected growth; care
- always taken that in high forests there
~ good growth of self-sown trees befor
the old crop is entirely removed. Sy!
tematic observation and experiments al
lio made as to the rate of growth, and til
lie best soil for each description
nj trees
PIC "The principal state forests in Englan
ECU are Windsor Park, $4,000 acres, the Ne
Pe Forest, etc., in Hampshire, 10000 acre
lie and the Dean Forest in Gloucestershir
"s q, 500 acres. The total extent of crow
IN forests is about $4,000 acres, and II
III timber growing upon them is valued ;
between two and three millions of pound
GU These wooded tracts are under Garrett
'"- management. The total receipts from ro.
ny al forests exclusive of Windsor amour
'oo ed in 1876 to 80, l29 pounds. The large
eA- forests in in Scotland are in Perthshir
a' Inverness shire and Aberdeenshire.
nu' these the most notable are the earl
Mansf1eld's near ScOne 5000 acres), Il
of duke of Athols larch plantations ne;
ate Dunkeld 10000 acres), and in Strathspe
vo- large extent of Scotch fir, partly nativ
and partly planted-belonging to the earl (
the Seafeld. The last named forest has bee
tu- regularly planted in such graduation ;
I'M to cut 1000 acres annually on rotatio
lui of sixty years.
ore Forest management in Sweden is
lla- course of progressive development, al
ose the administration is conducted wit
cen energy. The department consists of
ew director and 700 men of different admit
! 49,. ;..... ll.il