The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-05-29

stead of being a constant threat to tn:
farmers now are producing valuable
crops of wood; 100000 acres OF
marshes have been changed from a
worthless condition into forest valued
at $100,000,O0O. In France forestry
has, then, decreased the dangers from
floods and dunes, which threatened
to lay waste vast fields and has added
millions of dollars to the national
wealth
Russia comprises twO-thirds of the
whole forest area of Europe and ex-
ports over $3O,00O.O0O worth of wood.
she saw the necessity of forestry be-
fore the time of want had come, and
was not forced into it for self-prOtec-
ton, as were Germany and France.
She was convinced of their value Dy
the lessons other countries learned
by actual experience. Forests of nat
ural growth. which hold shifting sands
to protect the banks of rivers, canals
and other waters, and prevent ava
lanches, are free from taxes, and for
est-planting for that purpose is not
taxed for thirty years.
Fifty-nine per cent. of the total area
of Japan is under forests. and al
though Japan imports more timber
than she exports, she exports over
one million dollars worth of wood and
four million of matches, and the an
nual revenue is now S8,0O0,000. The
management OF Japanese forestry
dates back to the time before the
birth of Christ, and during the time
of the early Christians forest plant
ing on watersheds to prevent floods
was enforced. AS a result, japan
alone among the nations began mod
ern Industrial progress.
China is the only civilized country
which has destroyed her forests,
without making an effort to replace
them, therefore bringing upon herself
two costly administrations and wa
ter-famine. Her hills have been large
ly stripped Of all vegetation and her
soil is completely left to the mercy
of the floods. Trees have been taken
from every place possible, and no
where in the world has the soil been
so cleaned of forests. Without trees,
water cannot be retained at the hign-
er levels, therefore cannot be fed 20
the lower soils or to the springs. The
result is that even on plains the wa
ter level is too far beneath the sur
face to be used. Agriculture would
be entirely impossible if it were not
for irrigation and the terracing Of
hillsideS by which the rains are made
to wash the soil into small fields
whose edges are propped up by walls.
Nearly One-third of Canada is for
est, and her net exports of wood are
over 100000 tons a year, which is
just twice that of the United States.
Now, that all Europe is falling behind
every year in the production of wood,
the present indications are that the
countries which lead as exporters Of
wood will have to cut short their sup
ply. England, who has been depend
ing upon foreign supplies of wood,
and the leading importer of wood. will
have to count more and more upon
Canada.
When Columbus discovered America
in 1892, the western hemisphere was
practically a wilderness of bOundless
forests. No other part of the world
equalled the beautiful and luxurious
timber growth Of this continent.
While the settlers laid waste some %
the timber to build their homes they
burned millions Of dollars worth of
logs in the process of clearing the
land for cultivation, and as the coun-
try grew westward the pioneer ak
continued the destruction OF the for
ests, always cutting down and never
replanting.
Nations which now manage their
forests on well laid principles have
passed through four stages Of forest
experiences. First, forests were 50
plentiful as TO be in the way, and
were either neglected or destroyed.
Second, as the borders of the forests
receded from the sediments the ques-
ton Of local supply of wood had to be
met, and the forests were either pro
tected or spared Third. the demand
for wood and a better knowledge Of
forests and its growth led to the re-
cOgnitiOn of the forest as a crop,
therefore must be replanted. Fourth
as progress led to measures for
the general interest, including a
wiser and less wastefuI use of nat
ural resources. the forest was pro-
teCted and controlled so as to yield 2
constant annual income. The United
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