Evening journal., 1903-09-12

must be done to renew the denuded
timber lands. Consequently It is only
recently that the subject Of reforesta.
ton has been brought up for considera-
tion.
Until n few years ago education had
neglected 10 teach forestry and scien-
tific research necessary for the repro
duction Of trees and many agricultural
products. Realizing this, congress has
increased the agricultural appropria-
ton each year during the last decade,
until now 100000 a year is allowed for
forestry alone.
There are today about 500 young men
studying the subject and what can be
done by the farmer TO help the refor-
estation of the country.
We have reached the point where we
may well be alarmed at the forestry
conditions. Few know where to begin
or what to do. In twenty years the
scarcity will be felt strongly, and in
forty years, at the most, unless imme-
diate and extensive action is taken, the
entire country will be pinched. Our
timber supply viii be exhausted, and
we shall suffer a wood famine far
worse than the coal famine which
England is now fronting.
What we must do Is to study the soil.
A few years ago all our nne cigars
were coming from Cuba and other
West Indian points. sent men to
these various places and had them col
lect samples of the soil on which the
finer grades of tobacco were raised,
This was brought to Washington and
analyzed. Having found the properties
OF the soil, / sent out over the United
States 10 find the same kind, and as a
result we are now growing the finest
cigar tobacco right here in our own
country. My men found the exact soil
wanted in Texas, Ohio and Connecticut,
and IN these states we raise better to-
bacco than is grown in any OF the
southern islands.
So It is with forestry. The ground
that has produced the big trees and the
hardwood trees must be analyzed and
seed must be planted Immediately. If
the necessary elements are lacking in
the soil It must be manipulated until It
win grow timber.
Every agricultural college in the
country should have a forestry depart
ment Yale Is the only institution that
has a regular course, Cornell having
abolished hers / recently attended
the graduation exercises Of a western
agricultural school that received an an
nual endowment from congress Of STO,-
600 year. and out of the $50 gradu-
ates not one knew anything about for
estry This Is robbery.
A few figures will give fair idea OF
about how long the timber Of the coun-
| try may be expected to last at the
present rate Of consumption. There
are now zoe. 1000. 600 acres Of productive
forest land In the United States. The
annual cutting of lumber amounts to
$4,000 100000 feet a year, Of timber
/ 3,OOQ0OO,0O0 feet, for railroad ties D..
100000 and for fence posts 100000.
The lumber industry amounts to
/ $6T6,OO0,0O0 n year, and Of this the
farmers receive S109,OO0o0O for tim
Der cut from their personal property,
If this industry is TO be exhausted the
result can only be surmised.
Science is learning how TO treat soft
woods, which grow rapidly, so that
they can be made TO last as long as
hard wood. This will assist in reduc-
Ing the annual consumption of ties and
fence posts, which are no small fac
tor. We can only hope for greater de-
veiopment in scientific research.
The fuel question must also be con
sidered. Every farmer should grow his
own fuel. Those woods which are suit
able for the purpose are soft and grow
quickly, and every farmer should there
( fore, have his fuel patch as well as his
produce garden.
Every child should be taught the seed
Ing time Of trees and know when to &c
to them to find the seed, and then they
should blant them. The seriousness OF
the situation must be impressed upon
the coming generation, for they are the
ones who will suffer in event of fam
ine.
Therefore / say let every agricul
tural college have a forestry depart
ment and I'm the department study the
soil. Teach,your children from infancy
the value OF 'every tree and the need OF
planting trees. and you who are Older
enter in with the enthusiasts Of the
association, advocate a state forest re
serve and plAnt q tree whenever YOU
have a spare moment.