The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1908-01-04
STUDY FORESTRY.
Students at Oregon Agricultural Col
lege Gathering Tree Seeds,

iege Gathering Tree SEEDS,
BY f. A. Lake, Oregon Agricultural College.
The students in forestry at the Agri-
cultural college are making their first
collection OF seeds OF native trees and
shrubs for use 10 the establishment of
forest tree nursery and arboretum.
The purpose in view ia not only that
the work shall be instructive to the
student in the study OF seeds aud seed
aye, silviculture and dendrology, but
that the plant shall be source OF data
to the whole state upon the growth,
habit, resistance. and general character
Of the trees and shrubs Of Oregon, so
far as is possible to grow them upon
the same site and similar conditions.
Not only are local seeds being col
lected but seeds from the home dis.
tricts are coming in from friends OF
students and the institution. This
kindness on the part of those residing
in the more distant and mountainous
parts Of the state is highly appreciated,
as it enables the class to obtain much
greater variety than otherwise would
be possible with the time and means at
the command of either students or in
stitution.
Owing to the fact that the course lie
but one year old, only the general and
preliminary phases Of the subject have
been considered by the students in the
work. The o. A. @. Forest club, an
organization Of those interested in the
forests of the state. is now discussing
forest fire laws, their enforcement, eff
cheney and improvement. Each stu
dent is assigned phase of the topic in
hand and in due time reports bis find
ings to the club. Prominent timber,
mill and lumbermen upon invitation
discuss various topics before the club
as transportation, timber preservation,
forest conservation, re-forestation, i'm
proved methods Of numbering. u. s
forest service work and similar topics
Later the advanced students will take
up work looking to the solution Of som'
OF the very practical problems new be
fore the wood users OF the country.
The great problem of what to d,
with the waste, including the standing
timber that is injured by inject anc
fungus foes, will be one Of the first t.
be investigated as coon as the equip
ment Of the department will permit.
The statement is made upon goot
authority that fifteen per cent of tn
mature timber on the western slope o
the central region OF the Cascade i
wholly lost through .fungous diseases
and that another fifteen per cent j
graded as Gull. Beetles, borers AM
minor foes do considerable furthe
damage, and it is safe to say that tn
sum total OF these losses must amour
to millions Of dollars. 1t is reasona bl
to suppose, in the face Of recent result
in agricultural practices in our owl
country. to say nothing Of the moder
: forestry practices Of Europe, that tn
major part of this loss could be turne
to gain through the intelligent investi
cation OF the troubles and the applics
|, ton of modern measures for combattin
these foes Of the forest.
: Other great problems are those rela
ing to taxation, re-forestation, utilii
. : ing mill waste, improved methods {
; harvesting the crops, dispoeing OF I'll
. debris and weed trees. timber techno
: ogy and the preservation of lumber.
These problems together with man
more it is the purpose Of the college
:, help solve through the department
!, forestry, as well as train men to tai
q hold of the practical work and pIol
lens of our forests and thus insure II
. best possible use OF the tree crop.