The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-20
JERSEYS WOODLAND
The Forest Area Of the State
Over 2,25o,ooo
Acres.
SYSTEMATIC PLANTING OF TREES.
Arbor Day and the Purposes 1t
Serves-A Day For Every
body.

" tAIQ w. NA~N ~ -
and over one-half Of the Woodland in the
State represents such CONFORMATION OF soil as
to be unfit for agricultural purposes, says a
writer in the Newark Call. Nearly two
thirds of the woodland is occupied by pitch
pine (P. Rigida) and cedar swamps, mostly
in the southern portion Of the State, while IN
the northern part chestnut coppiee is preya-
lent, with a good portion Of oak, hickory,
locust and other hard wood varieties scat
tered among. The growth is such that II
fires and wasteful practices are prevented,
natural reforestation easily recuperates the
area cut over, and in from twelve to fifteen
years such forest becomes valuable Tor fuel
purposes, ties, sc. Fire is the chief de-
stroyer of our forests in this State, and its
ravages increase from year to year. n
1866 it is estimated that $751; 00. 900 worth OF
property has been destroyed by hres.
Some legislation imposing heavy penalties
for careless use of fire in camps, clearing or
coafings would be necessary. Stringent
laws 81 this kind exist in all European
countries. Not only would the effect OF an
efficient forest police on the depreciation OF
timber thieves be most salutary, but it
would also pay the expenses OF such plan by
the increased value of such timber lands
under increased security, even though other
wise unimproved.
ARBoR DAY.
know of no systematic planting of trees
in this State excepting in q small way. This
will directly point to our Arbor Day.
In this section of the country the Gov
ernor usually appoints Arbor Day some time
in April. as by legislative act OF 1884 This
year the 9th has been designated. This is
the day when we expect to be able to graft
The bud Of wisdom for the future welfare of
the forests into our young by not only CIV
ing them an object lesson in tree planting
but also teaching them OF the value and the
Importance of the forest.
Not only on Arbor Day, but at other
times, schools of every. grade, without de-
parting at all from their regular work,
could supply some practical lessons IN re-
gard to the object and use OF forests, the
nature and growth OF trees, and the sig
nifcance of their existence or absence,
awakening thereby the interest of pupils in
a kind of knowledge yet too little fostered in
the schools of the agricultural classes. In
higher grade schools such instructions could
be united with studies in botany and
natural history, and in our colleges fores-
try should be presented in lectures on ITS
various relations to agriculture and political
economy.
Last September the Pennsylvania For
estry Association issued a circular letter
and sent one to every County Superinten-
dent of Schools requesting that one exercise
of the weeks proceedings of the County
Teachers Institute be devoted to the sub
ject of forestry, either IN the torn OF an
essay or an address. Excellent results were
obtained therefrom. and the question has
become a very spirited one in the schools OF
that State.
FORESTRY ASSOCIATIONS.
Forestry associations are great benefactors
in the cause of forest reform. 1t is through
them. by collecting and diffusing mforma-
ton. they instruct, encourage and develop
public opinion, secure and enforce necessary
legislation and work in many ways for
which individuals lack time, money, oppor-
tunity or popular support. A man deeply
interested in forestry is far more likely to
speak or write about it, to get up meetings
for it, to seek to have it taught, to urge
legislation or try it OF his own land, If he
belongs TO an association, and feels 1t a duty
to his associates to spread the gospel In every
way he can, than If he do not.
Two very useful classes of people have as
vet held away in large numbers from forestry
associations, viz, those who know something
about forestry and those who do not. The
latter, as the majority in the community,
must largely constitute any forestry assocla-
ton which hopes to WELD the powerful In
auence of numbers in this great democratic
land. They are ten times as likely to learn
something about forestry inside of an as
sociation as out of it, and their slnews OF war
are as good as those of the greatest scientists.
Of course. to scientists, however, a success
full association must look always Tor lnsplra-
ton and guidance.
Forest reform can only be achieved by
| enIightening the mass of people and de-
veloping public opinion-in schools, col
leges and associations organized for that
purpose.
proyement made with our children In our
| public schools by the observance of Arbor
| Day. and it is confidently expected that even
| greater efforts will be put forth with this
| years Arbor Day celebration and making it
memorable.
FOR EVERYBODY.
Arbor Day is designed for the whole COM
munity-the rich, the poor, old and young,
| but it is especially applicable to the schools,
improvement committees, associations, ETC.,
| giving most valuable object lessons to the
| participants in connection with which
| botany, entomology, and even ornithology,
can be taught.
| member of the American Forestry Associa-
| ton and chairman of the National Com
| mittee on Arbor Day, writes in an article:-
ssOur schools can rende new service to the
| State, as well as to the pupils, by leading
| them to observe the habits OF trees, appre-
ciate their value and beauty, thus making
them practical arborists. Let each child
plant some flower, shrub, vine or tree to be
known by his OF her name. Such offering
they will watch with pride, as every month
of the year new beauties appear and find
a peculiar pleasure in the parentage of
tree, whether forest, fruit or ornamental,
q pleasure that never fails, but grows with
their growth. The educational effect of
such work, the Rthetic influence, the
growth of heart and mind thus secured, are
Of priceless value. Tree planting is a grand
discipline in foresight. It is always plant
ing and planning for the future. Mental
myopia means weakness and folly. while the
habit of forecasting is the condition of wis
dom. Too often youth will sow only where
they can quickly reap. A meagre crop
soon in hand outweighs a golden harvest
long in maturing.
THUS. this. work begun at school soon ex-
tends to the home, the parents as well as
the children become interested and in their
turn aid In the planting of trees, flowers or
vines to beautify their homes.
I'VE trust that all who have IN oppor-
tunity 50 to do viii on Arbor Day carefully
plant and afterward tend and nurse a tree,
be it in the schoolyard, along the streets, in
the parks, cemeteries or the garden at
home, and thus not only obtain a blessing
for themselves in after years but also pros
vide for future generations the grateful
shade and beauty as well, and in some cases
even thefruit Of the trees which their fore
thought has provided"
WANsER CLUB.
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