The Red Cloud chief., 1901-03-08
AMERICAN FORESTRY
Splendid Exhibit Planned for the
Buffalo Exposition.
- terestins Features Of \ Work
Performed by h Cover mest
-Iatended as q Lesson fer
n People.

-
Forestry will receive special atten-
ton at the Psn-Ameriean exposition
TO b held in Buffalo next year. The
exhibit will contain much that IL inter-
esting and beneficial TO the general
public, a description Of which will H.
lustrate the great scope and broad
lines upon which The exposition 10
founded.
The propagation, care and preservs-
ton Of forests has received q great deal
Of attention from the United States
government OF late years. The United
States division Of forestry under Gif-
ford Pinchot has made an unusually
generous offer 20 all farmers or persons
wishing 70 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 stmos-
pheric conditions, after which he
draws up = plan for planting. He also
instructs the farmer and his neighbour
40 far a. possible in the elements Of
forestry. In the main this takes up
the question Of the proper kinds to
plant in a particular soil and locality
the name OF planting and proper
care Of the trees until they attain ma
turity, says the official bulletin.
Particular attention has been given
TO the treeless regions Of the middle
west, especially to parts OF Kansas
Farmers throughout that section rec.
ognize the value OF wood lots as a 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-
ated in many cases by having once
lived In one Of the eastern states. when.
in their younger days, timber a o II
sidPred u nuisance 10 be gotten rid Of
with the least possible delay and e
pense. They do not. however. appreci-
ate the scientific advantages 20 the
country at large, Of proper forest infiu-
ence, which results in protection
against floods in spring and droughts
III buitltiitIs uS tNhiDit viii tdhC up
the broad question Of forest preserva,
ton, embracing the great national ben
eft to be ~bequeathed to future genera.
tons. by a moistened atmosphere,
which in turn will provide a 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 il falls, instead Of permit
ting il to course down the hillside, 20
join the brook which helps to swell the
river To OVERLOOKING.
Distribution Of moisture will be made
plain, AZ the work is done in the great
chemical laboratory OF nature. How
the wet surface of leaves operates as an
air tight covering to prevent undue
evaporation, while the myriads OF tiny
tree rootlets take up the water as il
slowly p%ercolates through this covering
into the soil. from whence il is raised by
a mysterious capillary force. through
the trunk and branches to the leaves
where it is given on in the form OF va
por through Transportation. To b~ once
more precipitnted "a 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 il growing IL exempli-
fed in the creation Of forestry depart
ments In great universities.
For more than a century the natural
forests have been cut and destroyed un.
I'll in many parts Of the country the
people are brought fnce to face with
one OF the greatest problems that ever
confronted them. This problem, in III
intricacies, 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 larg,
and small. that are manufactured or de.
rived from wood, but il includes the
question Of soil fertility, upon which
depends both individual and national
existence.
midas famine is q terrible illustra.
ton OF the great danger that confronts
a 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 4
building which of itself will be an in
teresting exhibit. With splendid nat
ural to draw from, and tn,
advanced knowledge Of forestry as f,
help, it is the intention To make thil