The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-02-05
OUR FOREST RESOURCES.
Prof Holmes Writes About Their Use
and Their Destruction.

Corresp ondence of the Progressive Farmer.
North Carolina lies on the border
line between the great northern mar
kets and the great supplies of south
ern pine, and hence, we are in natural
position to reap decided advantages
from this demand for timber. In the
northwestern counties we have con-
siderable quantities of what is termed
the loblolly or North Carolina pine; in
the southeastern counties we still have
considerable quantity Of the long
leaf or yellow pine, and in the swamps
of the entire eastern region we have
quantities of cypress, and gums, and
oaks, and juniper and other trees. In
the middle and western counties we
have large stores of hard woods, for
which there is also now growing
demand. Among the slopes of our
great mountain ridges are to be found
the finest forests of hard woods in
America, almost untouched, except
that along the railroad lines walnut
and cherry and some poplar have been
removed.
In all of these sections, but especi
ally in the extreme west and in the
east, investments are now being sought
in timber lands; but it is in the eastern
counties that our timber supplies are
being cut most rapidly. The market
value of the forest products in these
counties during 1898, not including
materials for fences and fire wood,
amounted to more than seven millions
of dollars. and the total value of the
forest products during that year would
probably reach twelve millions of
dollars Certainly thisNis an industry
of great importapc ce to the people Of
this region now. Under wise man
egement, its proportion may be in
creased. It is fortunate fact that
forest can be both used by the present
generation and perpetuated for the
next, but it is an unfortunate fact that
in our present methods of procedure
there is large amount Of waste and
destruction, and unless we act more
wisely in the matter, while we use
wizAt materially belongs to us, we will
also destroy that which naturally be-
longs to those who are to come after
us.
After a careful examination of the
forests in many of the eastern coun-
ties, am driven to the conclusion that
during the past fifty years more long
leaf pine timber in Eastern North
Carolina has been destroyed by fire
than has been cut by the Iumbermen.
And the action of the forest fire is not
limited to the destruction of large.
timber; it destroys the young growth
of trees which are just start
ing The average lumberman natur-
ally keeps but one purpose in view:
the removal of the valuable timber.
In cutting his large trees he destroys
a much greater number of smaller
ones; he leaves his brush piled about
Unfortunately, and too often either
he or some other careless person starts
forest fire which may nearly or quite
complete the destruction of the forest; !;
and thus it is that the forest of the
future, as we'll as that of the present,
is destroyed with but meager return,
even to the present owner.
It is our right, and, indeed, believe
it to be our duty, to use our resources
for the betterment Of the people as
each opportunity presents itself; but
it is reckless waste and it is great
injustice to the generation which is to
succeed us that in using our part Of
this natural wealth we destroy their
heritage as we'll. The grown trees OF
to day belong to us, but the young
trees Of to day, which will mature
twenty years hence, belong to our
children.
A few practical suggestions may be
made in this connection:
1. That the owners of valuable
bodies of timber should receive fair
return when that timber is sold.
2. In the sale Of bodies of timber
there should always be a condition
that in the cutting of this timber the
young growth must be protected.
8. Something should be done to pre-
vent the now common occurrence OF
forest fires. These fires are sometimes
started by the lumberman themselves;
sometimes by careless hunters; often
by sparks from the railroad locomo
tive; often by the owners of the land
themselves, who burn their forest
lands with a view of improving the