The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-04-12
Forests.

- -O-~oN0' NeNSS
the forests have been wantonly slaugh-
tered, with no attempt to replace them.
great change has been wrought at
by the removal of forest
trees by wholesale in that PERIOD, and is
still going on where any forest trees are
left to be destroyed.
Our almost snowless winters are mark
ed feature of the denuded land of forests.
In the first half of the 10TH century deep
SHOWS were the rule i'll this part of our
State, and the ground was kept covered
all winter with frequent snowfalls. This
was the rule, with few exceptions. Then
the country was largely covered with large
forest trees which appeared to contribute
to atmospheric conditions which produc-
ed frequent SHOWS.
Snow is the best protector possible 10
wheat and grass roots from frost. Cold.
dry winds work destruction to exposed
grass and wheat fields. The forest lands
protected the agricultural, or cultivated,
lands from the killing winter winds, by
breaking their force, contributed the
blanket of snow which covered the ground
the greater part of the winter, mulched
the soil of the forest with leaves which re-
tanned the rainfall while the deep roots of
large trees carried the water down into
the earth, feeding numerous living springs
that have entirely disappeared. The runs
and creeks flowed bank full nearly all
the year, which now are mere trickling
rivulets most of the summer.
Since the forests have been destroyed
the insects which fed upon their leaves
have come to the orchards and farmers
crops for food. The birds which used to
fill the groves with their songs and nests
and fed their young on the insects have
disappeared with the trees.
How to restore the forests aud bring
back their many benefits is the question
which is slowly taking possession of the
mind of people who think and note the
evil result of the wanton destruction of
the primitive forests.
There are thousands of acres of rough
lands in even the small county of Cecil
that are not worth the tax paid on them,
to their owners, which should be planted
in forest trees. Steep hillsides, rough,
rocky and stony tracts, the borders of
streams and bleak, wind swept ridges
should all be reclothed with forest trees
This cannot be done, or will not be, by
individual owners of the land. If done
the State and counties must take hold of
the work
Mr.. Amoss in the course of his remarks
on this subject at the opening of the In
stitute, suggested the release from tax of
lands set apart for the cultivation of or
replanting to forests. This would be an
inducement, but competent instructors
would be necessary to teach the farmers
the proper way to plant and take care of
the trees. The Agricultural College
should be able to, and doubtless would
furnish such men very soon when the
demand called for them.
The kind of trees to plant would be
most important. The native forest, or
what is left of it, would furnish in large
part this knowledge and the sites best
adapted to the several kinds Of trees
Hickory, chestnut, poplar, oak, walnut,
beech, maple, locust and ash are the most
valuable timber trees native to the soil.
The oaks are mostly slow growers, but
most of the others grow rapidly, and are
the most valuable of the hard woods of
this part of the country.
No more profitable educational work
could be undertaken by the oranges and
farmers clubs than the agitation of the
reforesting of our waste and improbable
land for crops. Farmer organizations
have languished and almost died OFT,
mainly because they had no definite
object to interest the members. There
are but ten oranges in this State. They
used to be numbered by the dozen.
II ldIHleIS expect 10 CatCn up TO the
procession Of ideas that are advancing
they must devote less time to gossip and
more to scientific subjects which are close
ly allied to their business, and make some
sacrifice of their inclination to shirk each
one his share in such work. Farm, or
agricultural organizations, by whatever
name, should include the entire house
hold of both sex, down to the little chill
dren. To exert full measure of influ
ence such association meeting should be
open to the public, and conducted similar
to the Institute
Farmers can attend their churches once
a week, and pay a considerable annual
stipend to keep up the congregation, and
they ought to feel it 2 duty to dedicate
one day, or part of a day. in month to
advancing their temporal welfare, which
in the long run would be found no small
aid to their spiritual well-being.
Aguinaldo has been captured, but the