The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-02-22
GREATEST OF ALL FORESTS,

WOflu $: i'ne question was asked IN the
forestry section of the American Associa-
ton for the Advancement Of Science at it's
recent annual meeting. says the Youth s
Companion. The Importance Of forests
for equa}izing the climate and the rainfall
of the globe was under discussion, and the
purpose of the question was to show where
the great forest tracts Of the world are sit
uated. One member, replying offhand,
was inclined to maintain that the greatest
continuous tract Of forest lies north Of the
st. Lawrence river, in the provinces Of
Quebec and Ontario. extending northward
to Hudson Bay and Labrador, a region
measuring about LOO miles in length from
east to west and 1000 miles in width north
and south.
a professor from the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition rejoined that a much larger contin-
uous area of timber lands was to be found,
reckoning from those in the state Of Wash
ington and Alaska. But he limited his
statement to North America, for he aided
that, in his opinion, the largest forest in
the world occupied the valley of the Anna
zon embracing much Of northern Brazil,
eastern Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Columbia
and Guiana, a region at least 2,100 miles in
length by 1900 in width
Exception was Immediately taken to this
statement by several members, who, in the
light of recent explorations, have comput-
ed the forest area OF central Africa, in the
valley Of the Congo, including the head
waters of the Nile to the northeast, and
those of the zambesi on the south. Ac~
cording to their estimates, central Africa
contained a forest region not less than
5000 miles. Unlike equatorial forests, the
and of vast, although of not fully known,
width from east to west. Discussion, in
which the evidence afforded by travels and
surveys was freely cited, seemed favorable
to the defender of the Anna zonian forests.
Later in the day the entire question was
tn tNor 1ier1Hf ,1>orx trn
was so fortunate as to be able to speak
from some knowledge Of still another great
forest region of the globe. This gentle
man gave vivid picture of the vast, SOL
emn taigas and urmans, the pine, larch
and cedar forests of Siberia.
the Obi river on the west to the Valley Of
the Indigrika on the east, embracing the
Olenelk. Lena and Yana rivers, is one great
timber belt, averaging more than 1000
miles in breadth from north to south-be-
ing fully 100 miles wide in the Yenesei
dstrict--and A1aving a length from east to
west Of not less than 4,6O0 versts, about
5000 miles Unliqe equatorial forests, the
trees Of the Siberian taigas are mainly con-
ifers, comprising pines of several varieties,
frs and larches. In the Yenisei, Lena and
Olenek regions there are thousands OF
square miles where no human being has
even been. The long-stemmed conifers
rise to height of 100 feet or more and
stand so closely together that walking
among them is difficult.
The dense, lofty tops exclude the pale.
arctic sunshine, and the straight, pale
trunks. all looking exactly alike. SO bewil-
der the eye in the obscurity that all sense
of direction is lost. Even the most exper-
fenced trappers Of sable dare not venture
into the dense taigas without taking the
precaution of "blazing' the trees con-
:stantly with hatchets as they walk for
ward If lost there the hunter rarely
iinds his way out. but perishes miserably
from starvation or cold. The natives
avoid the taigas, and have a name for
them which signifies places where the
mind is lost" The discussion was closej
very appropriately by Prof. Fernow. Of
Washington, with an illustrated lecture.
which showed how, in the earlier ages, for
ests had covered all the continental areas.
and had rendered the climate equable to
degree now unknown. At first human be-
ings battled with the forest in fitful man
ner. making small clearings for them
selves; but gradually, by the aid of fire and
of their own increasing numbers. they
have so far prevailed in the struggle for
supremacy that the forests are hopel5ss!y
conquered. But grave evils follow their
determination; and now the question is
how to foster, protect and preserve them.