The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-11-11
THE BILTMORE FOREST.
THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT SYS.
TEN FOREST MANAGE
GENT MADE AT
BILTMoRE.
W. ". Ashe in News & Observer.

W. ". Ashe in News & Observer.
It is an interesting fact that the first
attempt at systematic forest manage
ment in America was made at Bilt-
more In North Carolina. It is less
gratifying, perhaps, to North Carolin-
ians to know that it was the conception
of an alien and materialized under the
working-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 flourishing
elsewhere, forest management has Sc
cured hold which bids fair to be per-
manent. Like the good roads, its in
creased benefits, when once appreciated,
will permit no return to former meth
ods.
Mr.. G. w. Vanderbilt owns two for
ests in the mountains of this State
which are under the same manage
ment: One the Biltmore forest, living a
few miles to the southeast OF Asheville
and embracing about 5000 acres; the
other the Plsgah forest, of $4,000 acres,
covering the eastern and southern slopes
of the Pisgah ridge with its spurs, and
the valleys of some OF the western tribu-
taries of the French Broad river.
The Blltmore forest is on the round
ed river bills of the Asheville basin,
| the river dividing it. Its most distant
portion is about ten miles from Ashe-
vile. Although it has been under
forest management only about seven
years the woodland shows great i'm
provement over the surrounding forest
which has none of the protection. Un-
der 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 it's acquisl-
tion several decades OF cutting for lum-
ber and fuel with constant pasturage
and frequen fires, had in many In
stances reduced 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 lying idle.
The first step after the adoption of a
| forest policy was to secure immunity
from fires and the exclusion of cattle.
The presence of cattle under certain
conditions may be permissible, but
every practical precaution Is taken to
guard against fires. Although there
are only 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 caus-
ing more damage to the woodland than
any other thing and stopping them
the first measure to be taken in any
plan to better its condition.
| The trees which were standing seven
years 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 pres
ent management has been to continue
the removal of the old trees, where 1t
could be done without loss, and at the
same time to reproduce 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, hickory and pine, trees
which will eventually make building
materials or railway ties. In many
places thick young growth has ap-
peared beneath the few old trees re-
naming, 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 nc
cutting must be done which will In
any way tend to mar the beauty Of the
scene. In fact, entire hlllsides which
were formerly under cultivation are be-
ing, or haye been, planted in young
trees. This is not done as an advisa
tory forest measure, since the cost oi
planting Is entirely too large in pro
portion to any hoped for returns, but
merely as soil covering, garnish to1
barren hills, veil to obscure ever
Old People.
Old people who require medicine tc