Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1907-08-17
Forest Planting
In The Northeastern and
Lake States.

Pennsylvania except the western pOr-
tiOn. Michigan, Wisconsin, and the
eastern portion of Minnesota for re-
liable information concerning the
planting of the most desirable tree
species, the Forest service has gather.
ed together the necessary information
and has issued it in the form Of cir
cular which can he obtained free upon
request TO the Forester Of the U. s.
Department Of Agriculture, Washing
ton, ID. &.
ADvIsABILITY OF FOREST PLANTING.
While the necessity of tree planting
has not been felt in this part of the
United States SO keenly as 1t has
been. for instance, in the treeless
West, yet sufficient planting has been
done ia the past TO prove that the
growing Of wood crops is entirely
practicable.
Large areas of land in this region
are fit for forest growth only, ,and from
an economic standpoint it is impor-
tant that these lands be put into a
state of productiveness. Extensive
investment ia forest planting has
thus far been duly discouraged by
present methods OF taxation and, in
parts Of the region, by difficulty In Sc
curing adequate ire protection. The
true value of forest land and It's right
ful place among the permanent re-.
sources are. however, becoming ap-
preciated, and an enlightened public
sentiment is rapidly making this form
OF lnvestm Nlt safe and desirable.
CUT-ovER LANDS.
Throughout this region there are
large numbered areas on which sue
cessive fires have destroyed all young
trees of valuable species. Inferior
trees, such as aspen, fire cherry, scrub
oak, and red maple, as we'll as shrubs,
have sprung up. This land is worth
less in It's present condition, but
where adequate fire protection can be
provided forest planting will bring it
again to prOductiveness.
WORKOUT AGRICULTURAL LANDS,
There is large amount OF land.
particularly ia New England and
Michigan, which was first cleared for
farming but has since deteriorated in
value either through loss of fertility
or through neglect or abandonment.
ThrOi ghout Massachusetts, Connecti-
cut, and New Hampshire many OF
these abandoned farms and old pas
lures are now covered with white
pine. But this crop is rapidly being
removed and little natural reprOduc-
tiOn will follow because seed trees are
lacking. These lands offer exception
ally fine opportunities for forest
planting, owing to their nearness to
market and to their freedom from
brush cover.
SAND DUNES AND BARRENS
The barren sand plains of Connecti-
cut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, New jersey, and Mich
igaD, which cannot be titled and are
source Of expense TO their owners.
will in many instances support a good
growth of white pine, or at least one
Of the more hardy species of pine.
WATERSHEDS,
The protection of city watersheds
demands urgent attention. The an
nual spring floods, which bring de-
struction TO thousands of homes In
the lower-lying fertile valleys and are
followed by epidemics Of serious dl-
seases, would Ia great measure be
prevented were the slopes covered by
forest. Forests regulate the flow Of
streams, prevent erosion and turbi6i-
ty, and make waste areas beautiful
and productive, besides insuring a
source 0Ypure water supply. Where
ever ma sl reproduction cannot be
depended upon TO cover the denuded
and burned-oyer lands of most of these
watersheds, tree-planting operations
must be undertaken. While tho i'm
mediate object of this reforesting will
be protective, timber crops will even
tually be produced which will yield
good profits on all such investments.
UNUSED PORTIONS OF THE FARM.
Nearly every farm has at least few
acres which are of little value for
growing agricultural crops. This
land should be set aside for wood
lot and devoted to the production OF
fuel, fence posts, and timber for farm
uses.
The species best suited for planta-
tions OF these various sorts, as we'll as
planting directions and advice as TO