The Elbert County tribune., 1907-09-05
FORESTRY ON THE FARM.
BY W. G. M. Stone, President Of the
State Forestry Association.

the Colorado State Commercial Associ-
alton stands for every material inter
est within the state. 1t covers all.
Forestry as a farm crop simply
means: A new use for land; and as
agriculture is at the foundation of our
daily life, prosperity and civilization.
this feature would broaden and
strength the base by greatly increasing
the functions of the farm.
The use of land is evolutional: it
grows. Fruits and cereals are as old as
civilization. All else is comparatively
new. The potato as a staple crop is
less than $50 years old. The sugar
beat was forceSt into service by Napo-
leon. Alfalfa. aAuoug English-speaking
people. is still move recent.
In Colorado the evolution of the uses
Of land is an Interesting study. In
thirty-hve years l have seen most OF
them put into exercise; and yet only
two absolutely new use for land of any
great Importance have been introduced
to the country at large within fifty
years.
Uses for land, radically new, come
slowly. Their evolution is the result OF
ages. The deadly night-shade was
known for centuries before the potato
may have fed his charger on alfalfa,
this wonderful plant did not reach the
Anglo-Saxon till within fifty years.
Though resisted 1t has won Its way and
commends the use of millions Of acres,
and is rapidly extending eastward.
Although uses for land, essentially
new, evolve slowly, others will appear.
One is already at the door. 1t is farm
forestry. During the last half century
many millions of trees have been
planted on the farm, but not for COM
mercial purposes. They have been set
mostly for shade and wind-breaks on
prairie farms; few for experiment,
particularly In Kansas. Some of the
great railways have put out plantations
to experiment in growing cross-ties.
Tree planting on the farm, in any
large way, for use or profit, has not, as
yet, been undertaken, for the reason
that there have been no specific incen-
tives. Trees will not be planted in
quantities, unless farmers are pressed
by necessity or attracted by gain.
These are the two forces that must op-
crate, singly or together.
Now, the question arises: Is there
any necessity, or reasonable ground to
expect pecuniary profit? In reply let
us see what we can see. A hasty glance
at the amount of annual consumption
of timber in the United States and the
probable forest supply may throw some
light on the question of whether there
is any immediate necessity OF tree
planting for economic use.
The sawmills in 1890 were cutting
eighteen billion feet of lumber. board
measure; in 1900 the output was thirty
five billions; in 1905 it was forty-five
billions. Aside from the mill cut there
is an enormous demand for unsawed
timber; according to government esti-
mates greatly exceeding the output of
the mills. A total of 100 billion feet
board measure would be conservative
figure. At this rate how long will our
native forests hold out? That, of
course depends upon the stumpage of
the standing timber.
The exact contents of the forests
still standing is not known; approx
mate estimates have been made. The
highest is less than 1000 billion feet;
the lowest observed is 1875 billion
feet, board measure. To be conserva-
tive let us put it at 1900 billion feet.
Taking these data as approximately
correct we reach the startling fact that
our forests can last but fifteen years,
except the increment. Comparing the
demand in 1890 with that of 1905, we
note that in fifteen years the consump-
tion increased $50 per cent, which far
outruns the increment.
Figure as we may, an impending
crisis Is at the door. In the light of
such facts somebody must go to plant
ing trees; they must be planted by
farmers and planted by millions upon
r,,tlI DEF l..
timber famine will be upon the United
States. To any thoughtful mind the
situation is alarming.
From the foregoing Is 1t not evident
that farm forestry is being forced upon
us whether we will or not? There is
no evasion; no choice. Timber we
must have. No country can do with
out, nor any community. 1t is time
farm trees for commercial use were
planted and the work well under way
But aside from the grim, inevitable
forcing upon the American farmer the
necessity of planting trees, there is a
ray of brighter light. 1t is prophetic
of certain pecuniary reward, this
seems indubitable. Lumber is advanc.
ing, and must continue to advance at
rapidly increasing ratio. He who has
timber to sell, twelve to twenty years
hence, will have a bonanza. In a CIV
ilized country people must have timber
and products of the forest at whatever
cost. No other crop will sell SO well
or pay SO great return. Here then ia
an inducement; an unmistakable prom
Use of great pecuniary reward. 1t is
the farmers opportunity, unlimited in
extent and assured for all time.
The State Agricultural Experiment
Station has started the ball rolling A
year ago last spring 1t undertook forty
nine small experiments in different
parts of the state in order to arouse
an interest in the minds of farmers
1t chose two species of trees having
the widest apparent range of utility
The paintings embrace 10000 trees and
will become valuable object lesson