The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1909-07-23
MCAR Wl'XD CHN. Kr

hardwood producing states in the
union. and the first state in the pro
duction Of yellow poplar. is making
good progress In the movement for
the preservation OF its forests. In
1906 the legislature enacted the law
providing for the state board of agri-
culture. forestry and immigration.
During the following winter the board
asked and received the cooperation
of the United States Forest service
in = study Of the forest conditions Of
the state. This work was begun two
years ago and an examination of half
the area Of forest land In the state has
been completed. The result Of the
first years work. covering the IL
most eastern counties Of the state is
published In the Kentucky handbook.
1s0S-1S07. The second report. now in
the hands of the state board of agri-
culture. covers 4s counties. in the coal
mining regions Of the state. When
this investigation is completed Ken
tucky will have an excellent inventory
Of its lumber resources.
The manner In which the forestry
problem has been approached indi.
Gates that the people Of the state
realize that the ultimate solution Of
the impending timber scarcity must,
for the farmer. depend largely on how
he handles his individual timber re-
sources. and that there is no better
way than for him to consider the
wood lot as bank account, using
the interest which is constantly &C.
cruing. but leaving the capital undi.
mtntshed. Much educational work,
however. will be needed to secure this
desirable end.
The second report of the Forest
Service suggests forest law. Among
its most important features is a pro-
vision for the appointment Of a state
forester. The wisdom of this is evi.
dent since only by the appointment
OF 4 state forester can the work in
cooperation with Forest Service he
maintained and carried to a Success.
full conclusion. Until such time, how.
ever, as the safe Of Kentucky is ready
to assume the management Of its own
forest problems. the National Service
fs willing and anxious to cooperate
IN every way possible for the further
anee of forestry among private own
ers in Kentucky. In the cooperative
Investigations of forest resources now
In progress. the government spent
over $4,000 to duplicate a similar
amount appropriated by the state.
Kentucky has always been rich in
forest resources. but like many 9th.
er states has reached the point where
the timber will hereafter be produced
on q continually decreasing scale,
and 1t is necessary to protect and use
carefully the forests which remain.
In 1899 Kentucky cut 734.ooO ooO
board feet Of hardwood lumber. In
1907 the cut was s54.903. 900 board
feet. an increase of only 16 per cent
in the nine years. In the same
period the cut Of yellow poplar has
fallen on over 20 per cent Durin.
the same time the prices Of lumbe,
at the mill have advanced on an ay
erase Of IS per cent. and the demand
has increased accordingly.
The forest of the United States I,
threatened BY many enemies. of which
are and reckless numbering are tn,
worst Sheep grazing and wind com,
next. Cattle and horses do much les.
damage than sheep. and snow breaI
- less costly than windfall Land
,sljdes, foods. insects. and fungi ar,
sometimes very harmful. In certail
aituaaaous numbers OF trees are kille,