The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-25
FOREST REpRODUCTInN.

For many years the Morning News has
protested against indiscriminate forest de-
struction without any provision being
made for reproduction. The agitation in
favor of the trees during the last decade
has grown and broadened until now there
is hope that systematic efforts for forest
preservation will shortly be under way in
every state. The Middle West and North
west are at present in the lead in this mat
ter. In a dozen states there are state
laws, or organizations, or both, for the
protection and reproduction of forests. The
national government also is giving the
subject increased attention. The division
of forestry Of the agricultural department
is gathering information and publishing
useful bulletins on arboriculture and for
estry, and is making extensive experiments
in tree planting which viii be of much help
TO foresters hereafter. And the American
Forestry Association, of which the Sec
rotary of Agriculture is president, is pub
fishing a monthly magazine devoted to
trees and forests. Thus the literature OF
the tree is becoming quite volumnous and
widely circulated in this country.
That the campaign for the trees has been
attended with good results and that the
outlook is promising, is shown in a bulle-
tin recently issued by the forestry divi-
sion of the agricultural department. This
bulletin was primarily intended for circu-
lation al the Paris Exposition, but il makes
interesting reading for home-folks as well
as foreigners seeking information. IAN
impression widely prevails abroad" says
the bulletin, that little or nothing has
been done in the United States in the way
of forestry. But that Impression, it Is
shown, is erroneous. A fine start has been
made. Though il cannot be held that any
considerable amount of work has been done
under the supervision of experts trained in
technical forestry, there is nevertheless
abundant evidence to show that the own
ers of woodlands have frequently employed
| conservative methods in handling their
wood crops, and have otherwise shown the
desire and the ability to preserve the for
est without ceasing to use it; and that far
mers in the treeless districts, and others
have grealy improved the agricultural re-
sources of their land by tree planting.
Lumbermen have come to understand that
Dy leaving the small trees standing they
can return for a second crop earlier than
would otherwise be possible" In some
parts of the Northwest, "along the banks
of streams trees have been set to fix the
fast eroding soil, and to prevent the in
crease of floods; and on cultivated hill
| sides which have begun TO gully from The
washing of rain, trees have been made to
do good service in checking the excessive
surface drainage and saving the fertile
soil"
Unfortunately it cannot be said that
there is any movement worthy of note in
the South towards the preservation or re-
production Of the splendid. but gradually
disappearing, yellow pine forests. On the
other hand, there is yearly a destruction
of millions of young pine shoots, in the
burning over of lands in the spring for
grazing purposes. The Southern forests
are still extensive. They are the best in
the United States, probably. But, at the
present rate of destruction, and without
provision or care being made for new
growths, how long will they last? This is
very important question, and it is worthy
of the earnest and careful consideration of
legislatures and individuals