The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-12-11
OCALA, FLORIDA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER,
FOREST SERVICE EXPLAINS CREATION OF FIRST
NATIONAL FOREST EAST OF THE MIS-
SISSIPPI RIVER AT OCALA. FLA.

4 letter from the forest reserve
service at Washington says that to
florida goes the distinction of getting
he first national forest created east
Of the Mississippi river. President
Roosevelt has just signed a prOclama-
lion setting aside and naming the
Ocaal national forest in Marion Coun-
~. in eastern Florida, and another
proclamation creating the Dakota ma
tional forest in Billings county, North
Dakota. Inasmuch as the last named
national forest is the first in North
Dakota, the two proclamations add
two more states to the list of those
wherein the land will be put under
scientific forest administration. There
are now nineteen states, and Alaska,
having national forests.
over 100000 Acres
Before the creation of the Ocala, in
Florida, the two forests in Arkansas,
the Ozark and the Arkansas, were the
easternmost national forests. Prac-
tically all the other national forests
are in the Rocky Mountain and the
Pacific Coast states. The Florida for
es, has an area of POI, 480 acres, of
which about one-fourth has been ia
ken up under various land laws. 1t
covers a plateau between the St.
Johns and Oklawaha rivers, and at no
point is an elevation exceeding $50
feet above sea level obtained. The
area is by nature better fitted for the
production Of forest growth than for
aTy other purpose. Nearly all of the
area, however, seems particularly we'll
adapted 10 the growth of sand pine,
which is even now replacing the less
valGable species. and with protection
from fire almost the entire area will
n time undoubtedly be covered with
R dense stand of this species. The
iong-lcaf pine, much more valuable
commercial tree than the sand pine,
appeals rather sDarsely on this for
est and is confined principally to the
lower at lands along the streams oil
the borders of the forest.
In addition to the pines and scrub
growths, bald cypress, cabbage pal
E-etto and tupelo gum, gradually
changing TO water oak. ash. elm, mag
nolia, hickory and maple, are found
bordering the numerous ponds and
lakes which are scattered abundantly
throughout the confines CT this for
est.
What Fire Has Done
Fire has played a very important
part in bringing about the present
poorly forested condition of the Ocala,
as year after year large fires have
burned uninterrGptedly over this
tract, killing all vegetation and con-
suming the humus of the soil. Nat
urally protected portions which have
not been subject to the flames, prove
positively. however. that the soil will
rapidly respond to little care taking
and that the prevention of fires would
eventually mean the reforestation of
practically the entire area.
No sawmill operations have been
conducted on the area included in the
Ocala national forest. Turpentining
by boxing is carried on over contigu-
Gus areas and through the careless
and antiquated methods used the fu-
twe pine crop of the adjoining region
IS greatly jeopardized. The soil is of
little value for agricultural purposes
and about the only crop which eau be
produced that will be of lasting value
is sand pine and with proper care and
there should in time be a
valuable forest of this species. ?
New Dakota Forest
The new Dakota national forest
consists of 14.OSO acres in the Bad
Lands region. 1t is located in Billings
and lies an equal distance be