The San Francisco call., 1898-03-19
THE FORESTRY CONGRESS.

| HKOOGd the exertOnS O1 MT fApDOll IAAiiCy the officers of the American Forestry Congress
 have accepted invitation to hold summer session in California, probably in the Yosemite Val ley.
 The application of the principles o forestry to the preservation of our forest lands has had the West for its field. Immense reservations ot the public domain have been made this side the Missouri River, and frequently great popular dscontent has arisen from denial of the right of free commons on the timber land of the Government within such reserva- tions
 Perhaps there is hardly any other object of gov ernmental concern of more importance than preser- yation of the forest producing capacity of timber tracts. As presented to people, however in the reservations already made it appears simply de- nial to them of the commercial use of the forests. Hence they have learned to decry the whole plan.
 Forestry, however, does not imply denial of the right to harvest timber, like any other crop when it is ripe and ready. It that all timber of com mercal dimension and under shall be wasteully sacrificed in the harvest
 Land covered by forest bears trees of rlany ages, sizes and kinds. California IS the richest country in the world in .conifers. Dendrologists have not wearied in admiration of redwoods, pines, spruces cypress and other confers The soil of the forest is full of the germs of these trees It is nur- sery set with growing trees coming on to make the commercial crop of the future. I now in using one tree that is ready for the and saw we destroy a hundred that immature, and follow that by fires which deaden the latent germs in the soil, we are robbng timber tracts of their reproductive ca pacty and preparing for changes in our climate and and water supply of the most serious and destructive nature.
 The process of eliminating forest may be slow, but its restoration Is slower. When the groves are destroyed the soil is washed away because longer ;,. ,.+l,a,,, of the surface, once humid and shaded is exposed to direct evaporation The conditions of reforestation present problems that very costly. European Governments are now spending hundreds of millions ill terracing mountain slopes hold soil enough in which to plant seeds and nursery stock of trees, which often have be irrigated artfcally shaded while they get footing.
 It has been observed that in other place do the conifers, especially, grow rapidly and the forests in California, provided the soil is permitted to remain in its natural condition. Here 1t is possible within generation of to illus rae the benefits of proper treatment of forest soils to secure a constant and unceasing succession of crops of timber.
 Eastern forests are rapidly disappearing The pine lands of the northern peninsula of Michigan and of Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota were sandy soils, covered with light loam produced by the de- caying duff When stripped of their large timber these lands usually ravaged by fire, which de stroyed the young growth and burned the light top stratum. They bare, sandy stretches. Dem drologists under State patronage trying set them in the Norway sand grass that has been ei- fective in holding the dunes in Golden Gate Park but of years must go by before they will support any considerable forest growth.
 The region which drew its lumber supply from these spent forests must very soon look to the Pa cihc Coast for its supply of frstcass lumber If we learn in time how to harvest our lumber and at the time preserve our forests we have in them mine of permanent wealth beyond computation. The quality of rapid growth will make this coast the source of supply not only for own country but for the greater part of Europe.
 We hope that the coming session of the Forestry Congress will teach our people face to face, the value of preserving forests and the ways Of economy in timber harvest