Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-12-30


as they now stand. Nevertheless It Is
the ultimate policy Of the German gov
eminent to bring under other forms Of
culture all lands susceptible Of such
treatment, not reducing the wooded
area indeed, but gradually shifting 1t
30 that eventually only such lands will
be occupied with trees as are pracd-
cally valuable for no other crop. And
yet the extent Of the forest Is not to be
diminished. OF course in such manage
ment there will always be respect to
climatic and erosional possibilities. Ev-
cry forest in Germany Is accurately
mapped. In the working plans Of those
in charge Of any wood every tree Is
noted and recorded. Think Of 1000 900
acres of woodland cared for with ex.
actitude such as that! Small wonder
that the forests of Germany are
source Of constant and considerable
revenue to the imperial government
In 1895 the cost of administration in
the German forest is stated at $1.32
per acre, the income at S263. On 7.0O0,-
600 acres this will be quite consid-
cradle item in the kaiser's budget.
No American who has not witnessed
it can form any conception Of what 1t
is to see a forest in order. To walk in
the shadow of great trees by self ap-
pointed paths, to see beeches and oaks
and frs and pines luxuriating at their
best and yet all perfect, each support
ing but none destroying the other, none
fallen. none distorted or dying and,
best of all, none consumed with fire, is
an experience like to that Of an artist
in splendid painted hall. The writer
once saw an oak two or three feet in
diameter felled in the forest by the
Rhine. The tree was taken down piece
meal. Not sapling was injured in its
fall. There was no stump. The saw.
yers cut little below the surface Of
the ground. From the scene of action
temporary iron tramway was laid to
the regular avenue Of exit, and so the
logs were safely and quickly moved
out Of sight. When all was done, there
was left on the ground not a chip, not
so much as twig. The stump itself,
If such it may be called, was buried
in the soil and so left to decay.
The German method Of treatment is
different from that practiced in some
other countries-England, for instance.
In England the natural forest is all cut
at once, the grounds then reset or re-
planted with seed. In Germany the
object seems to be to keep the forest
as such always in practically the same
condition. The removal and constant
renewal Of native trees are scarcely at
all noticeable.
The woods are mixed in character,
and replanting goes on all the time,
chiefly from nurseries.
In Austria the forestry methods are
largely those Of Germany; in Switzer'
land they are those Of France. Forest
denudation has already in many places
almost ruined the Swiss mountains and
has covered the fertile valleys with
glacial debris. The French method OF
experiment is exactly in line with the
Swiss necessity. Italy is attempting
something Of the same sort. Her noun
tains and streams everywhere show the
results of thousands Of years Of mis-
management. Her forestry school is al
Millions Vallombrosa, a locality II
beauty fortunately still worthy Of the
poets praise. But the progress Of eco
nomic reform in Italy is still Gscourag
ingly slow.
The illustrations we have cited have
brought to us some conception Of mod
ern forestry, may even enable US per
chance to frame definition of the
word. Forestry is really branch OF
agriculture, field culture in the broader
acceptation Of the term. Yet forestry
is something more than q single CROP
Of aboreous plants. Forestry, as we un
derstand 1t, is q science which con
Germs itself with world culture, an arr
which teaches the proper use Of the
earth as an abode for civilized and en-
lightened men. The forester is some
thing more than woodman, and forestr!
is something more than the care Of tn.
woods. Forestry is applied knowledge
1t is the practical application Of al
that 've know of botany, geology, me
teorology. Besides this, 1t is branch
Of economics and concerns what We
call social science. 1t includes all these
things No greater problem today cX
lists in either philanthropy or science.
copyright. 1902. by Lewis D. Sampson.]