Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-02
RECLAMATION OF WASTE LAND

as on tne CIlaTicteT VI HO small part OF
our citizens.
RECLAMATION OF WASTE LAND.
Vermont in common with most other
States has a large territory which, ow-
ing to the denuding OF its forest growth,
has become practically waste land The
reclamation Of this barren soil Is a pro-
jet which should deserve the serious at
tontion of the commonwealth. While the
land In question may be owned by a
comparatively few persons the question
Of It's Improvement through forcstation
concerns the entire State. for 1t involves
climate, water supply, water power and
host of allied topics OF which we sell
dom think in that connection
Editor o. L. French OF the Brattleboro
Phoenix in company with other progress
sive residents of his community has in
stituted work OF forestry In connec-
ton with the development of a fine sum
mcr place which is deserving OF general
attention and emulation. The correspon-
dent OF the Springfield Republican says:
Four years ago Mr.. Hildreth and Mr..
French began setting out pine tree seed
lings on their Amcs hill farm. and they
have continued the work ever since, so
that they now have 5000 handsome little
trees growing which are n delight to all
who see them. Others have now become
Interested in the subject of pine tree
growing and hcnceforth thousands Of
pine seedlings will be set out on farms
within eight or ten miles Of Brattlehoro
village each year. From 10000 to 10000
seedlings will be set out the coming
spring. and in addition a largo number
of seeds which have been collected from
the cones NJ native trees will be planted.
Harry J.. Emerson, who has recently
bought about 400 acres Of land in this
town and In Marlboro. has placed an or
der for 10000 seedlings. which he will set
out in May. large part Of the farm is
growing spruce timber and other vari-
cites but there are on the farm $50 acres
or moro Of open land. Mr.. Rarrows will
put in from 5pn to 1000 pine seedlings
the coming spring. Clarke c. Fits will
utilize the open land on the Ward Estey
place in Dummerston, which he bought
general years ago for pine tree growing
and will set ont 1000 seedlings for a star
ter. Lucius Richardson ana his son, Char
les W. Richardson. sold the timber on
their wood lots IN the southern part Of
the town, near Guiiford, recently. and
the timber is now being cut off. There
are 20 acres in the lots. and the timber
Is largely pine. The Richardson's have
|
have secured largo amount Of seed
therefrom, which they will plant with a
view to reforesting these same lots. and
IN addition to the seed they will set out
a large number OF seedlings. All these
men arc prominent business mon of
Brattlehoro. and while the matter Of re-
foresting these lands is but side issue
with them II hetrays a spirit Of enter
prise which is highly commendable. They
will enjoy seeing tho trees grow. through
| the material benefits may go largely to
the succeeding generation. and while
others arc devastating the forests Of New
| England. they will have the additional
satisfaction of knowing that they have
contributed something 70 the country at
large. They intend to keep on setting out
seedlings year after year for several
years at least
| Pine forests are Of course In danger OF
fire and blight. but while the result is
not certain the cost is not heavy the
cost of the seedlings and the setting he
ing around So to SIS an acre The seed
| ings may be procured at the nurseries
1 and experiment stations and 1000 OF
them will pack into an incredibly small
space. They are ready to be SGT out at
about two wears old. and at that age
| they can scarcely ho seen above the
grass, but after two or three years more
! they will grow rapidly. Increasing IN
! height 70 inches, Is inches. 90 inches and
even more than that in single year
| They are set six feet apart or about 800
| to an acre. Height rather than thickness
| is the ond TO be attained, and If the
trees are set farther than six feet apar,
| they will grow stocky rather than tall
From % per cent. to a5 per cent. Of the
seedlings live. and in from, 20 to 40 years
depending upon conditions. the tmbe,
| Is ready to be cut There Is a pine tim.
ber-lot Of about three acres on the Put
nov road and another Of about tho sam,
extent in Chesterfield where there are
cood-sized trees growing from hands
seedlings but these are the only instan
ces OF the kind in this locality Beside.
their pine seedlings Mr.. IIidreth and Mr.
French have set ont 200 locust trees OF
their Anes hill property
It requires no argument to show tina
II this policy were generally adopted il
different communities in Vermont. es
pecially with reference to land which Ia.
been deprived of it's forest growth and /,
now practically waste territory, In,
forestation problem which has been vox
ing so many minds In our State woul,
soon solve itself. and the commonwealth
would soon see the growth of timhe
would make wood-growirg a prohtabl
occupation. and correct systems OF WORT
along these lines would make our timbe
tracts perpetual.
THE OLD YEAR AND THE NEW.
Srit 49, . IL