Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-10
Horticultural Topics
Conducted BY p. J. BerckHlGnS


-, and consequently the natural storage of
/ the past is no longer existing.
We read that in several sections of the
western and Pacific states many arte-
sian wells which five years ago flowed
abundantly are gradually not only ceasing
to flow. but water had TO be pumped from
annually increasing depths. The first
year rs feet below the surface. the second
| % feet and GO feet at the fourth year. with
the prospect that pumping will eventu-
ally become impossible unless the rain
conditions which have rapidly changed Of
| late years from the effects OF forest fires
are again replaced.
The absence Of water I'm many of the
areas Of the west and southwest prevent
the growing OF forage or grain crops,
l hence these sections are purely deserts.
| At the present rate Of deforestation of
our southern states il win not be long
before many OF the now flowing artesian
wells will become either useless or re-
auire the outlay OF expensive pumping.
( This would prove calamity TO many
| communities now salubrious, but which
previous to the opening Of artesian wells
we're subject TO malarial conditions.
There are many other considerations
1 connected with the practice of forestry,
which other states are endeavoring to pro-
mote by organizing associations for the
preservation Of their forests or by state
4 commission WHICH CONSEQUENCES the AoAAs
] game and forest interests. The village Of
Summerville. in South Carolina, has
adopted ordinances tending to preserve
the pine trees within its corporate limits,
and by a rigid enforcement have main
tanned what is conceded TO contribute to
the salubrity Of that locality as well as
attractfveness. Similar measures could
and should be adopted wherever new set
Elements begin. and OF these there are
many in Georgia.
The United States government organic
ed a division of forestry as a branch OF
the department of agriculture. For years
past IL was found that it's work was divid-
ed among other organisations, and that
this needs remodelling.
Should our state legislature ever realize
the absolute necessity of preserving what
Is left Of our once magnificent forests by
enacting tudiciOus and reasonable laws,
and organize a bureau of forestry, let IL
be so formed as TO be independent from
other branches of the state government in
its work. but not unrelated TO those that
are intended for the promoting of the
states productive resources.
That expert assistance is available for
all those owners Of forest tracts who de-
sire 10 adopt plan for their proper man.
| agement is shown by many requests made
10 the United States division Of forestry
/ by owners OF large areas Of timber lands
In several sections of the south. where
/ experts from that division have made pre-
/ limfnary examinations for preparing
proper working plans.
AS in other branches of rural economy.
the best results are usually obtained by
| cooperation. II a few forest land owners
viii combine. secure the advice Of a gov
1 eminent expert. their holdings would be
1 made 70 yield a better revenue as well
/ as preserving valuable material for flu
| ture generations. The price o. all classes
Of lumber Is increasing as rapidly is
/ the diminishing supply of timber. Ii will
i not be long before well-cared-for wood
lands win bring as profitable money re-
4 turns as many of our staple crops.
/ The annexed article upon rapid defor-
/ estation. as published I'm the New York
Sunday Herald. shows the probable dan
/ ger which must eventually occur should
forest destruction continue at its present
/ rapid rate. unless measures are adopted
/ for general refOrestation. p. ]. b.
FACTS wHICH% INDICATE THAT
WHOLESALE TIMBER CUTTING
IS CHANGING OUR CLIMATE
DEFoRESTATION THE GREATEST
/ WASTE NOW IN AMERICA, AS
| WELL AS A REAL DANGER.
/ These modern heat waves. with sun
stroke and death on every hand. have be-
| come a serious problem for science TO
solve. Important facts are herewith pre-
scented on the subject. IL Is believed that
/ the rapid destruction Of the great forests
Of the country by careless settlers. lum-
bermen and wood pulp makers are the
/ chief cause Of this marked recent change
L In our climate. And IL Is thought by
some experts that without trees the earth
/ would be uninha bitable.
Il is only in the United States and In
dia. IL is declared. that these devastat-
/ ing heat waves periodically sweep vast
areas. In EurOpe-Germany and France
| especially-where forests are protected by
/ law and heavy penalties rigidly enforced
/ for violations. such .outbursts of heat as
/ a rule. are unheard OF.
/ II has long been known ito mathemat-
L ical certainty" tnat drought increases
/ with the disappearance Of forests. Trees
/ not only create moisture and invite rain,
1 but their roots leaves and underbrush
/ hold the rain that falls long enough 10
be absorbed by the earth.
As hills and mountains. by fire or ak.
lose their forest, the soil dries up and
/ vegetation languishes. while valleys and
/ canyons are flooded. often with disastrous
results. This is the case around Pitts
/ burg and in other billy localities which
1 have been stripped Of timber for fuel
and manufacturing purposes.
/ On the great plains rain seldom falls.
/ When Il does IL is cloudburst. The wash
/ outs that come once in three or four
years in Arizona are OF understandable vio-
1 lence. Eastern readers would scarcely be-
/ Meve that on the parched alkaM deserts
Il a ClOudburst a few years ago along the
i Southern Pacific east of Tucson in half
Il an hour buried sections of the railroad
Il track 80 feet deep In sand filled gorges.
/ changed the course Of rivers, wound steel
| rails as IL they were wire around the few
4 struggling cottonwood trees skirting a dry
/ stream twenty or thirty feet above the
old track. and plOughed chasms In the ia
/ rantula beds clear down to solid rock.
WHERE RAIN IS AN EVENT.
In that strange city Of San Louis Po-
/ tOsi. in Old Mexico. where the timber
/ disappeared long ago. / was told that II
/ had not rained there for eight years The
i dust was a foot Deep and the burning
/ heat Of the sun seemed to wither the
Il very faces of the muleteers driving their
Il silver laden asses through the streets.
1 In the social Middle Park OF Colorado
i one sees a vast desolation of stupendous
/ mountains. Isolated and in clusters, abso-
Il Iutely naked-without tree or shrub. Ages
Il ago the Indians IL Is supposed. living in
Il that once pastoral region. fleeing before
1 invading tribes, burned the forests behind
/ them
/ on every side. I'm a grand encircling am
/ phitheatre. peaks OF the Rocky Mountains
4 rise TO the snow line hemming in this
/ Middle Park. fortunately supplied with
| rivers flowing swift and deep from the
4 canyons OF the snowy range. But the