Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-03
FORESTRY CULTURE.

Some facts of great interest in tree
planting have recently been issued by
the division Of forestry of the United
States agricultural department.. The
Times Republican is glad 10 WITNESS
the efforts made by this department
under our able Iowa Leader. James
Wilson, to stir the people up TO re-
newed activity in this work.
Mr.. Clifford Pinchot forester of the
department of agriculture. and Mir. f.
v. Goville, botanistof the same depart
ment. will leave Washington for the
west about May Is TO make a personal
investigation OF the problem of graz
ing in the forest reserves. The restric-
ton of sheep grazing in these areas has
raised storm of protest from wool
growers and public feeling in the west
has become divided and intense. a
plan for an exhaustiv Investigation by
the government was published a few.
weeks ago, but the tour of these Off
cials Will be the first actual work IN the
field.
They will be met at Holbrook, .Arz.,
by Il committee consisting of a. e.
Potter. of that city, who is secretary
of the Arizona Wool Growers Assoeia-
ton. aud j. L. Bark, of Phoenix, who
represents the cattle and irrigation in
terests. They viii spend three weeks
in the Black Mesa reserve and then
visit others in Arizona. The examine
ton will be extended to other western
reserves later in the summer.
Brunswick, Me, a place Of about
1000. is probably the first municipal
ity in the United States to undertake
forest planting on a large scale. or
what is practically the old world insti-
tuition Of a town forest. The town owns
a tract of about 1000 acres OF what
was once pine land. but long since
given over to fire and huekleberries.
At a recent meeting of the council sl0O
was appropriated to improve this land
by planting it to white pine. Seed will
be purchased and a nursery established
to raise the young trees. A the RICH,
age they will be transplanted in rows
and set out in the positions they will
finally occupy and will then require
little more care except protection from
q fire.
The land al present is absolutely un-
productive. If the new plan is sue
= cessful it will not only be ornamental,
but profitable. Town forests are com
mon in Europe and often furnish a
large part Of the municipal revenue.
The planting will be under the direct
supervision OF Austin Cary, but the di-
vision Of forestry will assist in organ
sizing and carrying out the work.
The watershed Of Rock river, in
northern Illinois. will soon be the sub
ject OF an Investigation by the division
4 of forestry in order to determine the
cause of the diminution of the stream.
This is supposed to be due to the de-
Z nudation OF the forests along its head
waters and to excessive artificial drain
age for commercial and agricultural
purposes. The decrease In. volume OF
water has become alarming and in re-
Spouse to the agitation of citizens In
4 that locality their representative in
congress-. Hon. r. r. Hit, has applied
TO ths secretary OF agriculture for an
Investigation. g. Fred Schwarz, field
( assistant in the division OF forestry
a Win proceed to Rock river in short
4 time to study the conditions and report
I In favor Of such action az he finds nd.
s. yigable. X
sfss plaptips for an unusual purpose