The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-05-21

each spring unit; Il reaches height
of three or four feet. or frequently as
nigh as a man can Conveniently reach
Every tree that is large enough 10 De
boxed is used in this work, even
though not moro than six inches n
diameter. Tais method OF turpentine
orcharding could be much Eore eco
ncmically practiced by adopting the
new system introduced by the bureau
OF forestry. When the Florida turpen-
tine gatherers have completed their
work in a section they are followed
by the lumbermen who effect COM
plete devastation of the forests
Killed by Fires.
In certain favored localities the trees
/ could be restored naturally by seed
| ing, but owing 20 the universal prac-
tice of firing the grass carpet in the .
spring, this slow method of restora- I
ton is rarely realized. In one section |
of about an acre seyenty-eigat dead
seedlings, ranging in height from six
inches to two and half feet, were
counted. As larger and larger areas
Of the country are exposed through re-
nioval of the timber, the problem or
restoration, owing to the conse-
lquent dessication Of the soil, becomes
more difficult. As result Of this snort
sighted policy of the state in controll-
ing the numbering and the annual fir
ing of the vegetation, there appears
TO be little hope of the preservation OF
the forests.
What the result Of fnis neglect viii
be can not be foyetold at present Ju Il
how far the changed climate in the
south Atlantic region is due 70 the
destruction or the forests In the gulf
and adjacent states, am not prepared
to say. This Is a subject that has not
received the attention IL deserves, but
there is good reason to believe, based
on observations made abroad, that ma
terial changes may be wrought in the
climate by widespread forest destruc-
ton. The history of the climatic
changes in Florida is deeply interest
ling. The first destructive freeze for
fifty years occurred In 1885, when a
three days blizzard from the north
west swept over the state and cut
back or at least defoliated all the or
lange trees down to about the 18th
degree in all but the most protected
sections. Since that time there has
been a succession Of frosts, as far
south as Tampa, that have materially
injured the crops In some places. Es
pecialiy have It's effects been felt IN
= the new groves, which were eithel
killed or crippled to such an extent
that few plantations have beer
brought into good condition In Decem
Der, 1894, still more severe north
b west blizzard defoliated all the trees
\ as far south as the Manatee river, ana
y the destruction was rendered com
plete by freeze in February, when the
groves were putting forth their young
y leaves and the tender shoots were III
ed with sap. From Tampa north thu
trees of the orange belt were eithe
killed outright or so enfebled that thu
majority were unable 10 rally. Peopl'
in the north have no idea OF the ex
tent of the ruin and desolatiol
wrought by this calamity. A great in
dustry, built up with reckless enthus
ed iasm owing TO the large returns secuI
", ed, together with extensive interest
IS associated with orange growing, wer
a swept away almost in single nigh
le- Today in the place OF these produt
tive farms, attractive homes and bus
he towns there remains but fraction c
5, all this prosperity. Abandoned field
ar OF white sand, dilapidated building
ng nature and extent Of the destruction
es II Is to bequestioned II this countr
ay has ever experienced such extensiv
lie, destruction of prosperity and fnanci;
ds ruin of so many people, for while th
ed estimated loss of 500, ZOO, 900 may ne
s.. be compared with some other calam
est ties that have overtaken the countr.
is it is 70 be borne in mind that IN hi
las case We are dealing vita misfortun
to- that cannot to any considerable e,
SIS tent be overcome.
at Forests Barrier.
While IL cannot be said that th
destruction of the forests in FlOriG
~ and in the neighboring states to u
i.o northwest is responsible for the C.
a. matte changes, it is significant TIL
he tne cold waves are always preceded
i'm severe wind storms from the north
In northwest. II viii readily be seen tn
tic forests afford an effectual barrier
,at the progress OF such storms and Thu
he permit the tempering Of the cold way
d. before it can reach the warmer sc
be tons of the country.
ne Be this case az 1t may, We may CO
,ld slider what will be the result to Il
elf peninsula of the destruction of Il
nal forests in the state. At present Il
ne. country is especially wen suppA'
SITS WlUn wafer, DIt Wnen these gre
ar areas are stripped Of the protectit
Ter afforded by the trees it would appe
,or. that there must follow a marked deS
en- cation of the soil. Sandy soil retail
or the least moisture, and when expos
Y a directly to high temperatures it Ct