The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-24

ATTEMPT as systematic forest manage
ment in America was made at Bit
more in North Carolina. 1t is less graft
flying, perhaps, to North Carolnians to
know that it was the conception OF an
alien and materialized under the work
ing-plans of an alien. Unlike other ideas
first advanced in this State, or plans
here first proposed, but which were
elsewhere matured, and now here are
scarce more than memories, or struggle
for existence, while fourishing else
where, forest management has secured
hold which bids fair to be permanent
Like the good roads, its increased bene-
fits, when once appreciated, will permit
no return to former methods.
Mr.. G. w. Vanderbilt owns two for
ests in the mountains of this State
which are under the same management:
One the Biltmore forest, lying a few
miles to the southeast of Asheville ahl
embracing about 5000 acres; the other
the Pisgah forest, of $4,000 acres COW
ering the eastern and southern slopes of
the Pisgah ridge with its spurs, and the
valleys of some of the western tributa-
ries of the French Broad river.
The Biltmore forest is on the rounded
river hills of the Ashevile basin, the
fion is about ten miles from Asheyille
Although it has been under forest man
agement only about seven years the
woodland shows great Improvement over
the surrounding forest which has none
of the protection. Under the present
management it shows what may be done
with piece of woodland, near some town
or large factory, in the way of utilizing
its wood production for fuel without
lesSening the yield capacity of the soil.
The timber on the river hills of the
French Broad was never of the best
quality; but at the time of its acquisi-
ton several decades Of cutting for lum-
Der and fuel with constant pasturage and
frequent fires, had in many instances re-
duced the number of growing trees TO
only a small proportion of what the soil
was able to produce. Young trees had
no opportunity to develop, which meant
that portion of the farmers capital,
the soil, was not being utilized, but ~
ing idle.
The first step after the adoption of
forest policy was to secure immunity
from fires and the exclusion of cattle.
The presence of cattle under certain con-
ditions may be permissible, but every
practical precaution is taken to guard
against UTeS. are ohls
three men, who among other duties have
to act as fire guards for the 5000 acres,
few fires of any extent have occurred.
Fires are regarded as causing more
damage to the woodland than any other
thing and stopping them the first meas
ure to be taken in any plan to better its
condition.
The trees which were standing seven
wears ago were considered as worthless
except for fuel, and much Of the best
fuel timber, the hickory and white oak,
had been cut. The object of the present
management has been to continue the re-
moval of the old trees, where it could be
done without loss, and at the same time
TO reproduce a crop Of young trees in
their place. In this new crop which is
being started preference is given to the
valuable trees: White oak,post oak, hick-
DRY and pine, trees which will eventually
make building materials or railway ties.
In many places a thick young growth
has appeared beneath the few old trees
remaining, which is regarded as most
promising sign.
Throughout this forest the landscape
effect is paramount, as through it wind
many miles of pleasure drives, and no
cutting must be done which will in any
way tend to mar the beauty of the scene
In fact, entire hillsides which were form
erly under cultivation are being. or have
been, planted in young trees. This is
not done as an advisatory forest meas
ure, since the cost of planting is entirely
too large in proportion to any hoped for
returns, but merely as a soil covering,
garnish for barren hills veil to obscure
eyer-deepening gullies, to cover what are
now blots on the landscape. Many of
these pleasure drives are expected some
day to form part of an arboretum, or
rather an arboretum is to be planted on
either side of the drives. That is, all the
trees which can be gotten to grow in the
climate of Biltmore are to be planted
along these roads. Trees from every
where are to be tried, both native and
foreign, from the southern hemisphere as
well as the northern. The nursery is al
ready stocked with thousands of speci-
mems ready to be placed along the arbo-
return roads. 1t will afford the botanist
an excellent opportunity Of study; the
lover Of trees can here compare the beau
ty of rival species, and their adaptablity
to these soils and conditions; and even
the forester may be benefited, may Sc
cure some species suitable for introduce
ton into the mountain forests which will
be a valuable addition to the timber
trees of the State. The arboretum, how
ever, has nothing to do with the forest,
as it is for beauty, or study, or mat
ter Of experiment in the department Of
the various trees at Biltmore; while the
forest and its entire management, SO far
as is compatible with its utilization as
a portion Of the landscape gardening, is
to secure an income, a continuous in
come, from woodland.
For great many years the products
Of the Biltmore forest must be of a low
grade, fuel, and often fuel Of poor
quality, the chief efforts of the manage
ment being directed toward starting a
young wood of desirable kinds of trees.
cord wood. At present the cutting
amounts to only a few thousand cords
year. This is hauled to the river from
the hills on either side, and from there
Is Hnatnd 10 A chnrilln ,,.hnro Il L.