Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1900-12-14

ties. They ale among the chief
factors in producing the most
favorable meteorological and eli
matte conditions. The highest
status of agriculture productions
cannot be attained except for the
presence of trees and forests upon
the globe and if all Of them should
be destroyed the earth's atmos-
phere would become so charged
with suticating gas and climatic
conditions would become SO chang-
ed that men and animals would
soon die in all the lands. Hence,
trees and forests are deserving of
the most thoughtful study of those
who would learn the best lessons
taught in the great book of nature.
Time will not allow me to discuss
at a fair length even the most i'm
portant features involved in tree
growth, but I will refer to a few
subjects in way of suggestive
thought. The elements consti-
tuting the tree are derived wholly
from the soil, air and water. The
roots, sapwood and leaves perform
the most important functions in
the growth and development of the
tree; the roots take up the water
and certain soluble mineral in
grediants from the soil, which ele-
ments are carried mainly by the
sapwood to the leaves, although
the heartwood transmits some of
the substances, under certain con-
ditions in some species. The
leaves assimilate the water and
other plant food getting it for the
various parts and tissues of the
tree. The leaves act as natural
laboratories absorbing the carbon
dioxide or carbonic acid gas from
the atmosphere, which under the
chemical action Of light, air and
water is therein decomposed and
the carbon and other elements are
used for the building up of the
tree and the oxygen which is pres
ent, is thrown off for the support
of human and animal life. Many
of the great forests Of old nations
have been wontingly destroyed,
this is specifically true Of Greece,
Persia, Palestine and other parts
of the old world. And great re-
auctions are being made in modern
times in nearly all divisions of the
globe. This is especially. true of
Canada and our own country. In
the United States we have less
than five hundred million acres of
forests and our annual consump-
ton for legitimate purposes, of
wood material amounts to over
twenty-five billion cubic feet, of
which seventeen billion and five
hundred thousand feet is used for
fuel alone. This consumption
does not include the destruction
caused by fires, which is estimated
to be at least five billion cubic feet
per annum. Thus it is found the
amount consumedis twelve billion
cubic feet over and above the
yearly growth. The increased
ratio of consumption is about
thirty per cent each decade.
Therefore, it can be seen, itcannot
be but q few years before the for
ests of the Union will be utterly
destroyed, and Improvement and
ruin will come upon our country.
The United States has made pro-
visions in way of National Parks
and Timber Reserves for the pro-
lection of near ffty-nine million
acres of forests, but has never ap-
propriated any money for the rails
ing of trees in any part of the ma
ton. While we have near 46O 5000
acres Of native and near 10000
acres of domestic. trees in North
Dakota, our annual consumption
is very far in excess of the annual
growth, and our state is sending
out of its borders many millions
of dollars every year to pay forfuel
and lumber. Thus the worlds
supply Of wood is decreasing and
the forests of the states and nation
being rapidly destroyed, and we in
our own state draining our pock-
cts for wood material. Now in
view of these and other serious
conditions, with earnest serious
ness, I ask shall not our intelligent
farmers commence at once to raise
trees and forests upon their farms
as a permanent branch of diversi-
fed farming? There is no ques-
ton but the soil and climate of
North Dakota are admirably
adapted to the raising of trees,
and by the use of common sense,
thought and proper management
they can be as successfully raised
in our state as grains and vege-
tables, The native and domestic
trees of our commonwealth as to