The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-11-03
FOREST REPRODUCTION.

bill was introduced IN the Senate
Oh Monday that contains. in its few
brief psrag raphs, more OF promise for
the future of the State than any meas
ure-or all the measures-previously
presented at this session 1t has for
it's purpose the preservation and bet
terment of the States forests. Every
man who has taken the trouble to in
form himself, or whose experience has
put him in position to be Informed.
knows that Vermont's forests are
swiftly disappearing. The timber
land is being denuded; the forests
that furnish only material for fire.
wood or pulp wood are going as well;
and the acres are few indeed, by COM
parison, that are encouraged to produce
again their wealth of timber or
the hundreds and thousands of acres
of timber aud woodland that are
stripped annually practically none is
permitted to return to timber growth
1t is left to grow up as it will. The
result is that not only is the supply
of timber becoming yearly smaller
but the farms are becoming Uf less
value also.
The water supply of this State, aud
of all States and countries that have
adequate water supply. depends
largely upon the forests. When the
forests are cut from the hills the fall
ing rains run off quickly into the
courses of the streams; they do not
soak in to feed the springs Not a
stream in Vermont is as large as it
was fifty years ago; some have disap-
peared entirely as continuous water
courses, and the maiu cause is found
in the disappearance of the forests
Throughout Vermont are abandoned
mill. demonstrations because the
streams on which they are situated no
longer furnish the required power ex-
cept in the spring or IL the time OF
heavy rains. Fields that fifty years
ago were valuable for tillage are now
almost useless because they are annu-
ally affected by drought The explana-
tion is to be found back Of those fields
on the bare hilltops where once were
forests rich in timber.
The interests of the whole State will
be advanced by attention to forest
planting and cultivation. 1t IS not
alone the valde Of the timber, but the
value of woodland in connection with
agriculture and manufactures and tue
water supply. Senator Pierce's bill
proposes a simple plan to induce forest
cultivation 1t is III brief; To exempt
from taxation for a period of ten years
all lands which shall be planted to
timber trees and cared for under GER
tain rules and regulations which will
insure the honest fulfilment of the
purpose for viii Oh the land is exempt
ed. The loss in taxes would be light,
as the kind of land that would be used
for such purposes is of little value.
And even that loss would be returned,
many fold, later when the land would
be returned 70 taxation, greatly in
~ tAso' NO GNU JOoAtJ bhO"' p
moe ale. Some inducement
III - 3, d out to farmer to per-
s7a'o hi y 10 embark in forest culture
..-ca4 q, tho long time before the
lle,utn ID i.a ey will come. Senator
ri cas- plan should be effective. 1t
mizr, .'e ms'e more effective, and in
lslro % mD.r r.pid reforesting of nom
p oducri0e ands, by a judicious bounty
system 49, p ying the tree farmer sum
" no-ey for every thousand trees, in
a thrifty condition, at the end of a
five years period, and the State would
thus be greatly the gamer The Jour-
nal heartily commends this measure
to the favorable consideration of the
Legislature. 1t is progressive law
making.
Here is an opportunity for the Legis'
lature to do something for the progress
and advancement of the States inter.
SITS. Here is one chance to change
from marking time to quick step to
the front. And there are others.