The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-09-18
Plant Trees.

all gone should be set to trees unless
it can at once be cleared and used for
farming purposes. We believe that
the camphor tree offers the best pros
pect for immediate profit. But if you
have no faith in camphor production,
then it is probable that the hardy
catalpa (Cata1pa speciosa), is the best
timber tree that we can plant. We
find an article, on this subject, in the
Southern Farm Magazine, which we
commend to your careful attention:
Farmers of the country are slowly
realizing the advantages of planting
trees. Trees are slow crop, but they
are a sure one, and the children of
men who plant today stretches Of nut
trees, fruit trees or hardwood timber
will rise up and call them blessed to-
morrow. The country is going to be
hard up for wood in a comparatively
few years if somebody doesn't plant
trees. Just at present the South is
stripping itself to meet the constant
Embarrassing demands for timber, and
in the South are exceptional opportu-
mites to prepare for profit in meet
ing the demands of the future. A
pointer as to this is hidden in some
comments by the Mobile Register rp-
on a recent visit to that part of the
South of Mr. John P. Brown of Con-
nersville, Ind, editor Of Arboricu1ture
The Register says:
GAS editor of magazine devoted to
the spread of knowledge Of tree Gull
ture, Mr.. Brown shows mitch interest
in the coast conditions as he finds
them. There are large tracts of clear
ed and partially cleared land in this
part of the country, and the question
that suggests itself is, What are we
going to do with this land?
"The idea, vague one, is that some
time to come this land will be in de-
mand for farming purposes; that there
will be an infuz of settlers from the
West and from Europe, and all tn"
land now cut over and of no value
for it's timber will be in USE This
expectation may be relieved, but no
one knows when; and in the meantime
very considerable territory is not
productive of profit to anyone.
"Mr. Brown contends that such land
will not soon be required for agricul-
tural purposes, and that if it should be
used for such purposes there would be
such increase in products that prices
would be lowered. There is, however,
he says, no prospect of an over supply
of timber, and all such land should be
used at once for the cultivation of
trees. Timber is becoming more
scarce each year, and the fear is felt
that a famine will occur-a famine
that is inevitable in time, unless ef-
forts are made to restore the forests.
"The catalpa is the tree that is
recommended as best suited for
growth in this locality It is a quick
growing tree, reaching a merchantable
size in 20 years, whereas the pine tree
requires 40 years and the cypress
600 years to attain maturity The
catalpa is described by Mr.. Brown as
resembling in its structure the butter
nut; it has a dark color, is a grained
wood and possesses great strength.
1t can be used as building material
and also in furniture work Veneers
from this wood have very attractive
appearance 1t would profit the State
to encourage the cultivation of this
tree, and all who engage in such cult
walton will reap a great benefit
"The railroads are realizing that the
supply of timber is short and likely to
be shorter as time goes on, and some
of them are providing for the future
by cultlvating trees. The Louisville
& Nashville has an experimental tract