The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1901-08-15
AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
AGRicULTURISTS.
some Up-to-Dats Hints About Gull
tivation Of the Soil and Yields
Thereof Horticulture. viticulturs and
Horticulture.


Save the Forests.
The preservation OF the forests has
become q live question with the
American public. Everyone that stud
les the question at all must be con-
WINGED that something should be done
and done at once. Forests are OF slow
growth, and an area denuded cannot.
be reforested in generation. There
are few big trees that are not older
than the men around them. Careful
estimates on the growth OF the spruce
shows that the trees now having di-
ameter Of IL inches cannot be replaced
Dy trees Of the same size In less than
loU years. 1t takes spruce Seeding
~ years to attain diameter OF 8
inches at breast high from the ground.
TO gain the next inch in diameter re-
qutres ~ years. The next inch Of
growth is made in IA years; 80 that
IN % years 1t has attained a diameter
OF only five inches. The diameter OF a
foot and a half will be reached when
the tree is 154 years Of age. We look
upon q young forest Of spruce without
realizing its value. We see trees S, g.,
z or 3 inches In diameter without sus-
pecting that they represent decades Of
growth. They are cut down ruthIessIy
and sometimes set ON fire for pastime.
Yet the 8-inch trees are more than 80
years old, and more valuable because
OF age "A tree that is IL inches in di-
ameter makes another inch in s years.
This fact indicates that the larger the
tree the more rapidly does il increase
in diameter. The time Of waiting is
while the tree is small.
These small but old trees will, in a
few decades, be very valuable for lum-
Der, IL preserved. Yet how often are
they sacrificed without thought. The
big trees fit for lumber are cut down
and trimmed. The branches are left
on the ground where they fall and in
few years become as dry ais kindltng
wood. They are kind1ing wood spread
out over hundreds Of square miles OF
so-called young growth. The day is
sure to come when the fire gets a start
in this material and when the wind is
in mood to work mischief. Then the
tiny fire becomes demon Of flame,
rushing through the slender forests
and devouring as 1t goes. Even green
wood will burn when the heat around
it Is intense. We all know the stories
of the recent great fires in the west
that have had their origin In the rub
bish LETT by the companies that had ex-
plotted the forests and then left them
public menace. The record Of loss
of property and life is long. Whole
villages have been obliterated, miles
Of railroads destroyed, trains caught In
the fiery vortex and abandoned, herds
of cattle and focks of sheep smothered.
All this has occurred because men or
companies have been given free hand
to conduct their operations with the
sole idea OF profit to themselves, and
with no idea Of the profit or even
safety Of others.
There is only one solution to the
problem. The states must secure as
much of the land now. In forests as
possible. In some cases this can be
done without expense En- other ap-
preparations should be made for the
purchase of forest areas. New York
has already taken the lead in the mat
ter and Is showing what can be done.
BY an act of the legislature the state
has entered on system of forest pres
ervation. In the Adirondack region
the forest preserve amounts to 1890
9S7 acres. and in the Catskill region
to 1891 acres. This large public res
ervation was set apart to, "be forever
reserved, maintained and cared for as
ground open for the free use of all
the people for their health and pleas
ure, and as forest lands, necessary to
the preservation Of the head waters OF
the chief rivers of the state, and a flu
ture timber supply; and shall nemain
part of the forest preserve" Addir
tions to the preserve are made by the
Forest Preserve Board. The superin-
tendent OF state forests has charge
OF all work connected with the care and
custody Of the forest preserve"
81 . 4 V
1t is perhaps well for the other states
that New York has taken so vigorous
a lead; for they can profit by her mis-
takes. In their haste to, further the
movement for the preservation OF the
forests, the people Of New York In the
year 1894 adopted an amendment to
their constitution as follows: The
lands of the state, now owned or here
after acquired, constituting the forest
preserve as now fixed by law, shall be
forever kept as wild forest lands. They
shall not be leased, sold or exchanged,
or be taken by any corporation, public
or private, nor shall the timber there
ON be sold, removed or destrnyets."
This is certainly overshooting the
mark, and leading foresters are reccg-
MIXING the fact. 1t is believed that the
amendment will be modified at the first
opportunity. 1t IS manifestly absurd 10
permit the state TO sell no lumber. as
the annual removal of a portion of the
trees is benefit to the forest, aud the
revenue thus secured would be in time
considerable. To demonstrate this the