Graham guardian., 1901-03-15
AMERICAN FORESTRY
Splendid Exhibit Planned for che
Buffalo ExpositIsH.
Enteresti~g EsatursN % tA@ wSxsk
Rssrsrmed by the Government
--4RtsAdsd as q LssssoA fep
9ha People,


FORESTRY will receive special atseA.
ton at the Pan-American exposition
to be held in Buffalo next year. The
exhibit will contain much that is inter
esting and beneficial TO the general
public, description Of which will IL
lustrate the great scope and broad
lines upon which ths exposition is
founded.
The propagation, care and preserva-
tion Of forests has received great deal
Of attention from the United States
government of late years. The United
States division of forestry under Gift
ford Pinchot has made an unusually
generous offer 70 all farmers or persons
wishing to improve forests or plant
wood lots. An expert will be sent
upon application, at the expense OF the
government, who will make an examin-
alton of the soil, climatic and atmos.
pheric conditions, after which he
draws up plan for planting. He also
instructs the farmer and his neighbors
so far as possible in the elements Of
forestry. In the main this takes up
the question of the proper kinds to
plant in particular soil and locality,
the manner of planting and proper
care of the trees until they attain ma
turity, says the official bulletin.
Particular attention has been given
20 the treeless regions of the middle
west, especially to parts Of Kansas.
Farmers throughout that section rec
ognize the value of wood lots as source
Of supply for fence posts and fuel, as
well as the benefits Of protection from
storms which is afforded by tree belts,
when grown for wind breaks.
The necessity has been brought
home to them by deprivation, accentu-
eted in many cases by having once
lived in one Of the eastern states, when.
in their younger days, timber was con-
sidered a nuisance TO be gotten rid of
with the least possible delay and ex-
pense. They do not, however, appreci-
Rte the scientific advantages to the
country at large, Of proper forest influ-
ence, which results in protection
Bgainst floods in spring and droughts
in summer The exhibit will take up
che broad question of forest preserva-
Gon. embracing the great national ben
efit to be bequeathed 20 future genera
tions, by a moistened atmosphere.
which in turn will provide regular, co.
pious rainfall.
One Of the most interesting features
will be an illustration of the manner
In which the mat of fallen leaves which
covers the ground in the forest absorbs
the rain AS it falls, instead of permit
GRg it to course down the hillside, to
hoin the brook which helps to swell the
river to overfowing.
Distribution Of moisture will be made
plain, as the work is done in tho great
chemical laboratory OF nature. How
che wet surface of leaves operates as an
Air tight covering to prevent undue
evaporation, while the myriads of tiny
cree rootlets take up the water as it
slowly percolates through this covering
into the soil, from whence it is raised by
a mysterious capillary force, through
The trunk and branches to the leaves
where it is given off in the form of va
por through transportation, to be once
more precipitated to the earth in the
shower or dew that waters the growing
crop.
The great Importance of forest pres
ervation in the United States is not ap-
preciated by the general public. That
the sentiment is growing is exempli-
fed in the creation of forestry depart
ments in our great universities.
For more than century the natural
forests have been cut and destroyed un-
til in many parts of the country the
people are brought face to face with
one OF the greatest problems that ever
confronted them. This problem, in its
involves not only the sup
ply of building material, pulp wood for
the manufacture of the largest amount
OF paper required by any country and
the millions of other articles, both large
and small, that are manufactured or de-
rived from wood, but it includes the
question Of soil fertility, upon which
depends both individual and national
existence.
India's famine is terrible illustra-
tion of the great danger that confronts
D people whose lands are stripped of
their natural forest growth. The dan
ger may be exaggerated and is prob
ably remote, but the underlying prin-
ciple is there.
The forestry exhibit at the Pan
American exposition will be housed in
building which OF itself will be an in
terestiDg exhibit, With splendid nat
ural resources TO draw from, and the
advanced knowledge Of forestry as
help, it is the intention TO make this
the mort interesting and practical for
estry exhibit ever brought together.