Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-04-27
TO PLANT TREES.
State Superintendent of Forestry w.
w. Barrett Issues His Arbor
Day Letter.
Urges the Planting of Trees and Tells
What His Department is Doing
to Promote it.

State Superintendent w. w. Barrett
of the department of forestry and fish
issues his annual Arbor day letter
urging the planting of trees every
where on Arbor day. His letter con-
tains much valuable information as
to the name of selection and plant
ing of trees. Of the Importance of
the work to the state he, says:
The soils and climate of North Da-
kOta possess all the essential elements
and conditions needful for the success
full growth and maturity of thrifty and
sound trees. Inis is attested by our
domestic or cultivated trees, amount
ing to upward of fifty thousand acres,
located in the different counties of the
state, and the four hundred and sixty
thousand acres, in round numbers, of
our native woods, thriving along our
rivers and lakes and upon the high
lands.
Aroused at last by the enormous
and wasteful consumption of the for
ests of the union, over twelve billion
cubic feet of wood material each re-
turning year v and above the total
annual growth these figures do not in
clude Alaska or any Of the island pos
sessions, nor the immense loss by fires)
Il national congress of late years has
passed some wise and wholesome laws
treating of forestry. Many states
have also taken advanced steps in be-
half of the great economic forestal re-
form. Our nation and many of the
progressive states are spending
annually many millions of dollars in
the interest of forestal development.
Is North Dakota doing it's duty in
this direction? Our people are i'm
bued to a full degree with the truth Of
the paramount Importance and the
economic advantages of trees in our
state, nevertheless this branch of in
telnal Improvement is truly neglected.
While other states pay liberal boun-
ties for tree planting and culture,
North Dakota offers nothing, and each
succeeding year, from dire necessity,
our people, without a doubt, are con-
Stunning in the way of fuel alone far
more wood material than the annual
growth of our native and domestic
trees, and besides this many millions
of dollars are yearly sen out of our
borders for more fire wood, coal and
building material. Do not these facts
the paying out each year of millions
Of our hard earned gold for forest ma
terials which can be easily raised in
our state upon Il rich prairie soil
indicate in the most impressive man.
ner the wisdom and Importance of en-
larging u wood area by nor plant
in, m or1 cultivation, 80 4,oocC
Realizing the necessity Of imbuing
the young with a love and a knowl-
edge of tr%ee-culture, the writer, as is
known, organized in 1892, the Sylvia
ton Idea of the North Dakota Forestal
System, OF the enlistment and teach
ing Of the school children of the state
in the subject of forestry.
The system is in successful operation
and has won the fullest approval and
endorsement of the leading minds in
our W and other states and the ma
tons of the earth, receiving also the
highest awards and hearty commenda-
ton at both the Chicago and Omaha
expositions.
In it's devotion to the great question
of forestry, the North Dakota State
Sylvaton Society, this year, as in
years past, will send out, free of
charge, millions of forest seeds to the
school children of our state for them
to plant OF or e Arbor day. not
only in the school grounds but where
they, the pupils, may make their
homes-on the farms or in the villages
or cities. Many trees, thrifty and
vigorous, have been started and are
making good growth through the an
nual tree seed distribution OF this for
estal society, and it is trustingly hoped
and believed that all school officers.
teachers, parents and guardians will
give their sympathetic support and as
sistance in this work, to the end that
the devoted children may meet with
renewed success in the pleasant and
praiseworthy work of planting and
raising trees for the benefit of the
home place, its auornment and the
Identification of the landscape.