The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-08
Raleigh, N. c., October 8, 1901.

tural purposes are concerned.
While we cannot hope to restore
the old conditions, we can at least do
something to keep present conditions
from getting wc"ae, and may even
improve them. LIE most effective
way to do this is, of course, to sub
stitute a rational system of forestry,
for the present destructive and
wasteful methods. State aid, or at
least State restriction, is needed, but
private effort must come first.
Thousands of acres of land are
cleared every year in East Tennessee
which shonld be left in forest for
many years yet. The same thing is
doubtless true of other parts of the
South. These lands are, as a rule,
cleared because they have been SO
badly managed as to become unprof1t-
able as woodlands. Much OF this
land will probably he planted in corn
for few years, and then "turned
out" TO grow up in briars and bushes
or to wash away. The farmer"
will then clear new land. If the
clearing of woodland could be stopped
entirely for ten years in this section,
it might work hardship in some
cases, but think there can be no
doubt but that it would be of benefit
to the country as a whole. We need
not more land to "tend," but better
"tending" of what we have.
If our forests are not to be
destroyed, the progressive farmer
must take the initiative in establish
ing and carrying out rational sys-
tenn of forestry. This can be done
without any great expense, and after
few years, with positive profit.
The demand for timber of all kinds
is increasing and prices are becom-
ing more remunerative every year.
In connection with this it would
no doubt be profitable, in many
cases, for the farmer to plant trees.
Many people doubtless regard tree
planting in the Appalachian region
as an sbsurdity, but l am convinced
that it can be made to give good re
turns. There are thousands of acres
of steep, worn lands, which are now
improbable for cultivation or pas
lures, and which would cost more
than their value to prepare for either,
but which might be planted in trees
at small expense. These, if the work
was properly done, would become in
a few years the sources of steady
income, and would also help to pro-
teoe cultivated fields. The black
locust is, think, the tree best suited
for planting on worn soils. 1t will
grow on poor land, and is easily
propagated. It can be transplanted
readily, or grown from seed. Where
there are q few trees growing, if the
roots are out or broken, and the re-
sulting sprouts protected for year
or two, good stand can be secured.
1t might, in some cases, pay to fol-
low this plan. The locust will grow
large enough for posts in from ten
to fifteen years, and locust posts are
always in demand. A grove once
started will perpetuate itself indef1-
nitely. Indeed about the only way
1 have seen successfully tried to get
rid of them is to keep stock enough
on them TO keep the leaves eaten off.
When they get too large for this they
are practically safe. AS write now
/ can see a row of locust trees which
were set out in deep gully few
years ago. They are growing nicely,
are filling up the ditch, and will
soon be large enough for posts.
Grass grows we'll under locust trees,
and many fields which are now
nearly or entirely protitless could
be made, in a few years to pay good
dividend on the work and money in
vested in planting them to this tree.
Another good point is that they can
be grown quite thiokly in fact, they
should be, if the best and straightest
poles are desired.
The black walnut is also a rapid
growing tree which is always in de-
mand. 1t is more particular as to
location than the locust, and one
must wait longer for returns. Still
there are many rocky hillsides which
might be planted with walnuts with
great profit to the next generation,
if not to this. E. e. MILLER.
Hamblen Co., Tenn.