St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-06-13
FOREST PRESERVATION.

FOREST PRESERVATION.
What Has Been Done In Germany for The
Protectioa of Trees.
The Engineering and Building Record
of a late date has an article in regard
to forest culture and preservation which
abounds in information of great interest
In the details which it gives OF what has
been done and is being done in Germany
in this direction. The question as to
the best measures to be adopted for the
preservation of forests and the planting
and culture Of trees in parts now bare
of timber. il truly says. is an ever-re-
curing one, and, in the United States
has for several years past been brought
prominently forward on every possible
occasion. Its importance. however.
entities it to liberal advertisement.
and it is to be regretted only
that 20 little is being accomplished
in this country toward the adoption
Of o national policy in the matter.
There is much to be learned from the
methods practiccd in European coun.
tries, in connection with the subject,
and it may therefore not be amiss to di-
rect attention to q recent report BY
United States Consular Agent Simon,
Mt Hanover, Germany. in which the
principles of forest management in the
province of that name are outlined.
It appears from his account that mu-
inequalities. communities and even pri-
vate individuals who are inclined to es-
tablish forest grounds and manage
them nationally will receive loans at
two per cent. and even cheaper from
the provincial government. to he re-
imbursed yearly by small INSTALL
ments. Single subsidies also are
granted for turning large wastes
into forest grounds. For the latter
purpose the provincial government re-
sorted to the method of using vaga-
bonds and prisoners not of dangerous
character for forest culture. Under
this system about 5000 acres were
planted with trees by the troublesome
classes named within the years 1876 to
1883. Moreover. communities as well as
private individuals have turned about
II, 900 acres into forest grounds within
the same period by means of subsidies
afforded by the provincial government.
Besides. the matter of forest culture
is encouraged and promoted on the part
of the royal government rs well as the
provincial government by the estab-
lishmcnt of nurseries, where plants
and young trees are to bc had ut very
moderate prices.
BY legal preservation of forests in
the vicinity Of towns, pleasant walks
are created for the pleasure and health
of the inhabitants. without the material
profit of those places. At a short dis
tance from the old city Of Hanover. for
instance, was the so-called Ei!cnreide,
a forest OF about 1,50O acres, which the
city now partly encircles. This forest
has essentially contributed to the repu-
tation of Hanover, with regard to sani-
tary condition, to the extent OF Its be-
ing now, according to statictics. one of
the most heaithful cities in Germany.
Several smaller towns which own
extensive forest grounds and manage
them in q rational way clear by
the net yielding of those woods
the whole Of their municipal ex-
penses: as, for instance, the town OF
Mundcr, situated at the foot of the
Deister mountains The town of Goslar
is said to derive an annual income of
from SIS. 600 to $50, 900 from an extent
of $500 acres of forest grounds. Every
traveller on an excursion to different
parts of the Hartz mountains probably
has admired the fine, practical forest
roads which facilitate the transport of
wood. II has been estimated that, by
the higher prices which the town re-
ccives at the sale of the wood, on &C
count of the easier transport, the caPi-
tai invested in making these roads and
keeping them in good condition yields
20 per cent. yearly.-Chicago News