Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-29
A GREAT REFORM.


It Is impossible TO estimate the loss that
Georgia has sustained by the reckless and
sweeping destruction OF her magnificent
pine forests.
Georgia pine Is for many purposes the
best in the world and thirty years ago
we had what was considered practically
inexhaustible store OF wealth OF this kind.
But beneath the barbarous methods OF
the "turpentiner" by far the greatest
part OF those unsurpassed pine timber
lands have been laid waste with little
prospect OF their. restoration. Much can
be done. however. to protect what is left
OF Georgia's resources OF pine and much Is
being done in that direction.
DIT. Charles Fl. Herty, formerly a pro-
fessor in the State university. is the most
conspicuous and most effective leader in
this great reform. A year or so ago DR..
Herty became convinced that there were
immense possibilities Of public service In
the demonstration that methods could be
devised which would not interfere with
the yield OF turpentine. a very valuable
product. and at the same time protect the
trees which were tapped for this purpose.
He resigned his professorship and devo-
ted his life to this work of reform. He
has carried II to an extent that has made
him famous and won for him title to the
gratitude OF his state.
He spent months IN one OF the best pine
belts OF Georgia and proved absolutely the
correctness and practical, value OF his
theory which is now being adopted very
generally in Georgia. Alabama and Flor
ida.
His plan Is so simple that a mere state
ment OF It will convince any intelligent
person that IL will do what he claims for
IT. but the results he has accomplished
present still more convincing proofs Of the
worth OF this treatment OF our growing
pine timbers.
The system OF obtaining turpentine be-
fore DR.. Hertys method became known
was to strip the trees bare for a consid-
cradle space near their roots. This was
quickly fatal to the greatest tree. for.
with three or four boxes cut into II sill
further life and growth became impossi-
bic.
The Herty plan win at least double the
life Of a tree that is tapped for turpen'
tine. He cuts no box at all-merely gut
ter at the end of which is clay cup In
Irwin county he worked the two methods
side by size and the cup method gave
rOsin and turpentine that brought from
20 TO 800 per cent more money. In the
end the Herty method increases the yield
from a tree. All operators who have
watched the Herty method in actual oper-
alton do not hesitate to say that It is
preferable in every respect. The earthen
cups needed are inexpensive, and can be
made as readily ana as cheaply in many
parts OF Georgia as anywhere else.
DR.. Herty claims that his process does
not shorten the life OF a tree in the least!
The most unfavorable estimate OF it con-
cedes that It will Iengthen the life Of a
tree to at least double the period during
which it win last under the former pro-
cess.
There is every reason TO believe that the
Herty plan will accomplish much more
than that, but even If it does only that
much it viii add many millions to the
wealth Of Georgia.
DR.. Herty believes that like process
can be applied to the rubber trees of
South America, thus adding enormously
to their value and cheapening thousands
OF articles which are in common use.
DR.. Herty must be classed already
among the great practical benefactors OF
the south and we expect to see p,uch
greater results from his discovery than
are already assured