The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-16
Forests Will be Gone Within Forty
Years.

The Hon. James Wilson, Secretary
of Agriculture, in The Chicago-Record-
Herald, says:
It will not be many years until the
monarchs of the forests, which have
stood for 20 to 80 years, will have been
reduced to dressed lumber. It was not
until comparative few years ago
that the people realized that in time
the supply of timber would be entirely
consumed and that something must be
done to renew the denuded timber
lands. Consequently it is only recent
ly that the subject of reforestration
has been brought up for consideration.
Until few years ago, education had
neglected to teach forestry and scienti-
fc research necessary for the repro
duction of trees and many agricultural
products. Realizing this, Congress has
increased the agricultural appropria-
tion each year during the last decade,
until now s400, 600 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 re-
forestation 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 Immediate and ex-
tensive action is taken, the entire
country will be pinched. Our timber
supply will be exhausted, and we shall
suffer wood famine far worse than
the coal famine which England is how
fronting.
What we raust do is to study the soil.
A few years ago all our fine cigars
were coming from Cuba and other
West Indian points. I 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, I sent out over the United
States to find the same kind, and as
result we are now growing the finest
cigar tobacco in the world right here
in our own country.
Ny men found the exact soil wanted
in Texas, Ohio and Connecticut, and
in these States we raise better tobacco
than is grown in any Of the Southern
islands.
So it is with forestry. The ground
that has produced the big trees and the
hard wood trees must be analyzed and
seed must be planted Immediately. II
the necessary elements are lacking in
the soil, it must be manipulated until
it will grow timber.
Every agricultural college in the
country should have forestry depart
ment. Yale is the only Institution
that has a regular course, Cornell
having abolished hers. recently at
tended the graduation exercises of a
Western agricultural school that re-
ceived an annual endowment from Con-
gress of $4,000 a year, and out OF
the 450 graduates not one knew any
thing about forestry. This is robbery.
A few figures will give fair idea of
bout how long the timber of the
country may be expected to last at the
present rate of consumption.
There are now 700, 900, 600 acres OF
productive forest land in the United
States. The annual cutting of lumber
amounts to 35, 600, 900, 600 feet year
Of timber, 5000, 600, 600 feet; for rail
road ties, %, 600, coo, and for fence
posts, 8, 900, 600.
The lumber industry amounts to
s676, coo, 900 year, and OF this the
| farmers receive 500, 900, 600 for timber
| cut from their personal property. Ii
this industry is to be exhausted the
result can only be surmised.
Science is learning how to treat soft
wood, which grows 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
factor. We can only hope for greater
development in scientific research.
The fuel question must also be con
| sidered. Every farmer should grow
his own fuel. Those which are suit
able for the purpose are soft and grow
quickly, and every farmer should
therefore have his fuel patch as vel.
as his produce garden.
Every child should be taught the
seeding time of trees and know when
to 60 to them to find the seed, and
then they should plant them. The seri-
BUSINESS of the situation must be I'M
pressed upon the coming generation
for they are the ones who will suffer
in event of famine.
Therefore, | say let every agricultur-
al college have a forestry department,
and in the department study the soil.
Teach your children from infancy the
value of every tree and tie need of
planting trees, and you who are older,
enter in with the enthusiasts of the
association, advocate State forest re-