The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-02-23
Importance of Forestry,

The Importance of a wide dissemina-
ton both of the knowledge Of the evils
following the removal Of forests, as
well as the benefits insured by their
protection, has been graphically shown
by Prof. e. J. Houston. Prof. Houston
proposes that elementary forestry be
made a study in u lower schools, as
such study is necessary to properly in
struct the public through the children
as to the duties it owes the state to
insist on the enactment of penal laws
for fifty protecting the forests in GER
tain sections Of the country. He does
not advocate the studying Of forestry
as a formal study necessitating the use
OF a textbook, unless such book be
merely as a reader; but rather that for
estry should be made a branch of ele-
mentary science (say geography or Of
elementary natural science in general.
He would teach, as far as possible the
general principles underlying the
growth of trees and vegetation. the
laws regulating the distribution of the
suns heat, the peculiarities attend
ing the evaporation and precipitation
OF moisture, the general laws of drain
age, etc. He would then simply en-
deavor to show how the presence or
absence Of a forest covering in any Sec
ton OF country must necessarily be in
huential in modifying the distribution,
not only of the surface drainage, but
also Of the suns heat in that section
OF the country always carefully avoid
ing 1eDatable questions, and tenn paring
the instruction of the age and intelli-
gence of the children to whom it was
given. A most desirable step in this
direction has already been taken in the
order of the school authorities that ap-
propriate exercises shall be conducted
in all the public schools on arbor or
tree planting days. The subject of tree
planting is naturally very attractive
to intelligent children. So, too, is the
growth of the tree, or, indeed, of any
plant. In the first place, there is the
germ or seed from which the tree
grows. Then there is the cradle in
which the plant after birth is nourish-
ed and cared for-the soil. Then come
the sunshine and the heatshine, that
awaken the germ from it's lone sleep;
then comes the nourishment OF food;
first, the part surrounding the germ
and lying inside the seed, and next, the
greater part lying outside the seed,
which the plant obtains from the soil,
or from the atmosphere. Such lessons
can be made to the intelligent child
more interesting than fairy stories. In
fact they form vertible fairy stories.
American students Of forestry will be
able to derive some most valuable hints
from the current discussion of the
movement now strongly in favor for
the afforestation of the British Isles.
England imports every year besides
S15,OOO,O DOC of teak, mahogany and 9th
er tropical woods, $50, OOO, 900 worth of
oak, ash and coniferous timber, all of
which might be grown at home. DR..
Schlich has estimated that if 100000
acres of the waste lands Of Britain
were planted, they would eventually
yield sufficient timber to render these
latter imports unnecessary: 1t is even
probable that a smaller area would suf-
flee, were the productiveness of the ex-
listing woodlands increased by better
management. The planting of 6,00O,-
600 acres at the rate Of 100000 acres a
year would annually employ some 49,
600 labOrers. and eventually. once the
forests had been grown. about 100000
laborers would find in them steady EN-.
ployment, besides the large number Of
hands required by the special forest in
dustries which this large forest area
would certainly call into existence.