The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-08-19
SOME USES OF The WOOD LANDS.

} IL aIO Illh ~ NV NoiaS vi ~
forests, but their ruthless destruction contin'
ues with little apparent abatement. Self
interest seems to be the surest motive to ap,
this, and affecting all people every where.
There IL no human law TO prevent the land
owner from clearing every acre OF his woods.
should he wish TO do so. 1t is possible that
the State may find some way 10 regulate the
cutting Of timber In the future. Some might
regard such action az an abridgment OF per-
sonal rights not to be thought Of; and yet, in
the common interest, II NAV become neces-
sary. At present, the only restraining infu-
ence will be self-interest. The present ia
very real and tangible; the future seems far
away and uncertain. II ia for this reason
ture! Ifit Is made plain that II is best for the
present and the time TO come, TO leave a
part OF the land In forest, then II Ia safe 10 be-
lieve that some OF the woods will be pre-
Hitherto 1t has been the plan in the South
to clear forest land when the old fields began
TO fall. This has been continued until only a
scant remainder of the original forest ia left,
the thick l~y-populated sections. There are, 1t
Ia true, large areas that have not yet been
occupied for agricultural purposes, and In
these places the original forests remain large
~ intact, although cutSover by the lumber
man..
Much of the forest that Is found in the old
or settled sections today is second growth, or
even third growth, This argues we'll for the
IGUuDcldDlNC poVOto "a VIZ boIks
The land, once cleared and cultivated for
years, has again been allowed 10 grow up In
| woods, and these pine woods (ior they are
usually pinel are very useful, although not
equal TO to the original growth in point OF
size.
The soil in these second growth forests ia
| very productive, and 1t is the fate OF many OF
the pine woods TO be re.cfeared and the land
| planted again in cotton. Some think the
pine woods new ground makes better cotton
than the original soil.
Whatever we may think OF that, It surely
does not argue we'll for the .thriftiness OF
II means that we have allowed much OF the
land 10 practically"wear ont and then turned
1t over 10 Nature to reclaim 1t ID fortunate
that the soil has In IL such Inherent strength
In q general way, II IL education and an en-.
liehtened self-interest that must be depended
upon to save the forests from. destruction.
ALI recognize the fact that timber is essential
Itself is not involved. There must be wood
for fuel, Tor building purposes, and for all the
manifold uses OF q complex civilization. :
Partial dependence for fuel may be placed
this supply is NOT inexhaustible, and like The
forests themselves, under careless methods
Of mining will be exhausted all too soon..
The forests should be, preserved for their
Ing, for vehicles, and machinery, for furni-
tnre, for telegraph poles, railway cross-ties
and the common uses OF the farm will be
needed. We have not found anything TO take
It's place for these purposes, and probably
grain than wheat will be discovered 10 make
-four. By adopting intelligent methods Of
forestry the supply may be preserved indef1.
IT. will rapidly disappear. We need not think
that each succeeding generation will find q
way to provide for Itself regardless OF how
we have abused our resources. These re
L-,.l 10000 - A.--a A.
be used rightly and then transmitted to the
future. There Ia no excuse for waste, and II
we regard ourselves as reasonable men and
women, we will see 1t that way.
The value OF the forest as q cover for the
soil and for its influence on climate Is TO be
considered. This influence ia only imperfect.
ly understood, but there is no doubt that they
do affect climate TO q very appreciable ex-
tent. Their influence is a tempering, ameli-
Grating one.
The soil In the, wood lands is more porous
than In cleared land, due to the presence Of
plant roots and abundant vegetable matter.
This enables 1t to absorb more OF b rainfall.
and In this way forests influence very greatly
Tie flow Of streams. The soil In the forest has
6eep compared 10 a sponge, In It's power TO
absorb and retain moisture. If all the sur
face OF the land were bare. the water after q
rain would run of quickly, causing sudden.
destructive floods. Much OF the soil, too,
would be carried away. We readily perceive,
then, how valuable-it might be said how es.
sential-the woods are as a means OF controll-
Ing the flow OF the rain waters. or all the
uses OF the woodlands. nome Ia more far
reaching in It's effects than this. Then Ia II
not evident that part OF the area OF every
farm should be left with Its forest covering?
This knowledge, however, will not avail us,
unless we act upon IT,. II Is not intended to
suggest here what part should be so left, for
the conditions are different ON each place.
The steep and rough places, and any other
land that can be spared should be left 80.
Much OF the land Ia worth more for the crop
of trees II will produce than for the possible
cotton crops that could be gathered from 1t.
Not many farms have as much forest as they
need or will need very soon.
Another nse OF the woodlands, which is not
often thought Of perhaps, but which Is q very
real one. Ia ss q source OF fertility Tor the Gull
tivated land in the form OF leaves. Instead
OF clearing the woods, 1t would be far better,
In many cases. to leave them as Q permanent
body OF forest, from which to collect leaves to
enrich the poorer parts OF the farm. This
true. II the time and energy spent in clear
ing the land were directed towards saving q
part of the annual leaf crop. the forest would
still be there for future use, and we would
probably realize as much In Increased crop as
we would had they been cleared. It will be
worth while 10 consider very ~thoughtfully
this use OF the woodlands. 1t does not mean
that no trees are 10 be cut IN the forest, but
only that we should commence putting into
practice, the principles of modern forestry,
which are simple and based on natural laws.
The forest will continue to be an. unfailipg
source OF f1re.wood and the more valuable
kinds Of timber, as we'll az supplying an an
nual crop of leaves. II will not ipiure 1t In
any way TO remove q part OF the yearly leaf
fall, and the cultivated land will be enriched
10 that extent each year. This will be CO
operating with nature, which Is our mother,
misleading OF violating her laws, The trees
send their roots deep into the bosom OF the
earth In search OF plant food, and deposit their
surplus every autumn In the form OF leaves.
It Is we'll TO use commercial fertilizers, but II
would be economy 10 use this supply, which
may be had simply for the labor Of saving.
They may be applied directly TO the land, or
preferably, used as bedding In the stables.
Even the leaves of fruit trees are valuable,
and in the older countries they are considered
a useful source OF fertility for the farm,
Trees art good subscribers. particularly the
pine, which has 8 long tap,root. The common
farm crops feed near the surface, and unless an
adequate return Is made 10 replace what IL
removed each year, the topsoil ia likely TO be-
come partially exhausted. In trees we have
one remedy for this They feed at much
greater depths, and thus have the power OF
rem ewing the topsoil by bringing up mineral
matter from'the lower earth strata. In this
way IL Ia seen what q useful purpose trees
serve as soil,ren They alone OF all the
plant creation bring plant food from the low
or depths of the soil, and render 1t available
at the surface. This truth Ia evident In the
OF the pine woods, which in 2a or 80
Years will restore worn land 10 productive.
ness. In 40 or so years the restowal would be
more complete, Thos. Tolbert.