The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-08
PRESERVE THE TREES
A PLEA FOR PRESERVATION AND
RENEWAL OF OUR FORESTS.
P~ecunfary md Hygfenic Reasons
That Should Induce Landowners to
Stop the Waste of Timber.

At the regular meeting of the Fayette
County horticultural Society. held at
Connersville, on Thursday, the appended
paper on Preservation and Renewal Of
Our Forests was read by Mr.. John p.
Brown:
The early settlers Of indian found the
land, for the most part, covered with a
dense forest Since civilized man could not
suDsist, as the aoorisineS had done, upon
the productions OF unaided nature and the
game which was at that time so abun-
dant, their greater efforts were put forth
to clear the land of its timber that IL
might become profitable through cultiva-
ton. AS We look upon the moldering re-
mains or oak, ash and walnut rails from
more than 10000 miles OF fences within
our borders We are impressed with the
abundance which once existed. Here and
there tracts were left uncleared, but subse-
destruction, until Indiana might almost be
classed as a prairie State. In the great
forests OF the North and West fire de-
stroyS vast quantities of timber. Often on
the mountain sides. impossible except on
foot, travel is impeded by the blackened,
bayonet-like trunks and limbs lying pros
cts standing dead, black, dismal. without
a dollars value, destroyed by some care
less hunters campfire or by a passing
locomotive. In localities where lands are
of greater value and the woodlands are
required for pasture, all young growths
are destroyed by cattle; If not killed OUT
right by browsing the symmetry Is de-
strOyed so they never make good trees,
while seeds are, by tramping. prevented
from growth; one by one the original trees
fall, owing to the unnatural conditions 10
which they are subjected, Hr;d as there
are no young trees to take their places
the forests, like the Indians who inhab-
tied them, seem destined to determination.
Looking over the rolling hills from any
prominent point in Indiana the landscape,
varied by numerous groves of woodland,
presents the appearance OF extensive
vrnndn1 f~O 4 hr~ arnan nnnrar nTna oh
these prove to be, in most cases, inferior
growths. the more valuable oak, ash, wal
nut, hickory, poplar having been cleared.
In order to remedy this situation cattle
and sheep should be excluded from exist
ing forests that the young timber may not
be destroyed; the natural conditions should
be renewed by mulching with straw or
other material TO destroy such grass as
forms a turf: by planting seeds, nuts or
small trees to nl spaces; by encouraging
the growth OF such shrubs and plants
as NURSES" which by loosening the soil
witt their roots. shading the ground and
mulching it with their leaves protect the
growth should be permitted in order that
evaporation be reduced to a minimum.
There should be planted a fair proportion
9 S6os suG for trees tSs a bir5 will as shield sS t and pI IsSors
the farmer Is protected from insect foes.
YOUNG TIMBER THE BEST.
/ shall endeavor to remove the fallacious
impression that timber lands are without
value until the trees have obtained great
age. The oak, for example, is of great
longevity; its growth seems slow when
compared with human existence and the
opinion prevails that a century would
elapse ere 1t would have a value. This is
far from a fact. Youth is life, energy,
strength, vitality, elasticity, no matter
whether. 1t be in the animal or vegetable
world. The oak at thirty years, having
made rapid growth. is in its prime, its
wood is sought by manufacturers, while
from an old tree the wood is brittle n
for many purposes OF far less value. Sec
ond-growth hickory. that young vigorous
timber which quickly springs up in an
old rich clearing, is OF much greater value
than lumber from older trees. A woods
man never made an ak handle from an old
tree, but chose the pecan or hickory sap
ping, which had the necessary strength
and elasticity. The best carriage spokes
are from trees of less than thirty years
growth. while the locust rapidly decreases
in value after the fifteenth year. Ten years
ago the writer measured many trees on
TIE government grounds at Washington
with the following results as to trees
of fourteen years growth: