Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-04-13

| Iagy I .sYTWW ford, q resident OF
We N.Y. Amsterdam, Hol-
81 VINO q land, writes in Gar
den and Forest as
follows:
The Dutch dunes are similar to
those Of New Jersey, and unless the
soil is covered 1t Is shifted by wind
and wave. More than 1000 acres Of
land in the neighborhood of the town
of Bergen is owned by the government.
This Is very much like the dune land
near Avelon, on the Jersey shore.
There are residences surrounded by
large trees in the lee Of the Dutch
dunes, but everything has been plant
ed, even the famous forest between the
Hague and Schevingen. the Atlantic
City of Holland, and 1t will cost the
government at least 100000 gulden to
plant its dune lands in forest. Many
private holders in this region are not
in favor OF this work, some preferring
to SEQ It In its unproductive state,
mainly for hunting purposes. The
principal game. however, Is rabbits,
and their determination has been de-
creed because they are very destruct-
i've. Thirty years ago experiments
were begun by the famous geologist
Staring for the planting OF the dunes.
but the work was frowned upon and
discontinued: the trees which he
planned still remain. In the eastern
and southern parts Of Holland there
are vast stretches of rolling heath
lands. a continuation of the Luneberg-
er Heide in Hanover, which stretches
through Schleswig- and Dem
mark to near the Zuyder Zee in Hoi-
land. The soil is sand and gravel
mainly glacial drift, in which may be
seen irregular ice-worn pieces OF rock
from the Scandinavian peninsula.
There are reasons for believing
that at one time this region was
partly forested The names OF
places in old Dutch often mean
forest or wood. and Mr.. j. h.
Schober, the pioneer Of heath plant
ing in Holland, found part or the
trunk of large oak buried deep IN
the ground in his plantation at Scho-
venhorst. A few sheep can 1--we upon
the scanty heritage, and as soon as
little humus forms on the surface IL
is removed by the peasants to mix
with manure. The beating force OF
winds and rains has compacted ana
leached the surface soil. Low heather
and crisp llchens cover the ground,
reminding one OF the sterile fields In
southern New Jersey. 1t Is even more
barren than the flre-swept plains OF
Ocean county, in that state. with
work. this whole heath can be re-
claimed. The huge experiment which
Mr.. Schober mas had the patience and
patriotism to begin proves that trees
will grow there. A careful working
and a little enrichment of the soil are
all that are needed at first. When Mr..
Schober began his plantation at Put
ten. 40 years ago, it was all desert
heath. Conifcrs from all parts OF the
world are growing there luxuriantly,
and, although his experiments Will not
be complete for years to come. they
show, at least, that great variety OF
conifers will grow on the heath lands
OF Holland. and that certain species
are, of course, much better adapted to
the soil and climate than others. Many
tests must be made before conclusions
as to the very best varieties are war
ranted. Mr.. Schober has planted also
large quantities of Scotch pine, from
which he receives revenue. This
wood is cut and carefully sorted, and
The poles are shipped to the Belgian
mines. What surprised me most on
this remarkable plantation was to see
species from the Rocky Mountains and
the Atlas Mountains thriving in these
heathlands. The most beautiful trees
in this large pinetum, as l saw them.
were Abies nobilis and Cedrus Allan
tica A great deal of private planting
has been done in Holland with very
little encouragement from the govern
ment. In the southern part there are
large areas in Scotch pine and coppice
oak. The willow has been planted in
immense quantities along the LEX, the
Rhine, the Mas and WAL. In the
sandy heath regions much OF the soil
has been improved by planting one of
the lupines, Lupinus luteus. beautiful
plant, which may be useful in Amer
lea as green manure, since it seems
to flourish on very sandy soil. The
American locust, Robinia pseudacacia,
Is favorite tree here, since it grows
well on poor soils, and it is quite the
custom to plant it along railroad en-
bankments. 1t is also favorite shade
tree in many German cities, and, when
properly trimmed, 1t has few equals
for the purpose. Our wild cherry,
Prunus serotina, also seems to thrive
on the heath lands.