The Holly chieftain., 1907-08-16
suggestions For Forest Planting

cept the western portion, Michi-
gan, Wisconsin and the eastern
portion OF Minnesota for reliable
information concerning the plant
A ing of the most desirable tree
lay species, the forest service has
! gathered together the necessary
information and has issued it in
neg the form of circular which can
be obtained free upon request to
q the forester of the U. S. depart
veH ment of agriculture, Washington.
D. C.
n While the necessity for tree
mr., planting has not been felt in this
part of the United States SO
j keenly as it has been. for in
stance, in the treeless west, yet
". sufficient planting has been done
~ ~ in the past to prove that the
A' growing of wood crops is en-
nj tirely practicable.
ber Large areas of land in this re-
Sail gion are fit for forest growth
Mr. only, and from an economic
standpoint it is important that
4 these lands be put into a state OF
b,oi productiveness. Extensive in
@ IT. vestment in forest planting has
~ ~ thus far been unduly discouraged
W. by present methods of taxation
and, in parts of the region, by
1 difficulty in securing adequate
pun fire protection. The true value
was of forest land and its rightful
way place among the permanent re-
sources are, however, becoming
appreciated, and an enlightened
com public sentiment is rapidly max
priv ing this form OF investment safe
day and desirable.
Thruout this region there are
4 large numbered areas on which
Sta, successive fires have destroyed
OH all young trees of valuable spe-
and cies. Inferior trees, such as as
MD pen, fire cherry, scrub oak. and
red maple, as well as shrubs,
! have sprung up. This land is
hon worthless in its present condi-
day ton, but where adequate fire pro-
All lection can be provided forest
JOY planting will bring it again to
productiveness.
There is large amount of
land, particularly in New En-
gland and Michigan, which was
~ first cleared for farming but has
since deteriorated in value either
! thru loss Of fertility or thru neg
p. D. lect or abandonment. Thruout
. . Massachusetts,, Connecticut and
- New Hampshire many of these
-, : abandoned farms and old pastures
are now covered with white pine.
y = But this crop is rapidly being re-
~. moved, and little natural repro
e duction will follow because seed
trees are lacking. These LANDS
offer exceptionally fine opportun-
! tiles for forest planting owing to
the their nearness to market and to
Bri their freedom from brush cover.
sev The barren sand plains of Con-
ca1 necticut, Rhode Island, New
nes Hampshire, Massachusetts,, New
I Jersey and .1lchlgan, which can
By not be titled and are source of
any expense to their owners, will in
NE many instances support good
soe growth of pine, or at least one
~ Of the more hardy species of pine.
81 81, The protection Of city water
sheds demands urgent attention.
The annual spring floods, which
bring destruction to thousands
sto of homes in the lower-lying fer
pe tile valleys and are generally fol-
II lowed by epidemics of serious
. diseases, would in a great meas
l;ts ure be prevented were the slopes
III covered by forest. Forests regu-
;de late the flow of streams, prevent
II, erosion and turbidity, and make
wi waste areas beautiful and pro-
vi ductive, besides insuring source
fa of pure water supply. Wherever
rs natural reproduction can not be
M, depended upon to cover the de-
N nuded and burned-over lands
m Of most of these watersheds, tree
IN. planting operations must be un-
hv dertaken. While the immediate
- - 4N r