The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-12
FORESTRY REPORT.
Concerns Reclamation of Waste Lands
In Foreign Countries.

The forest service of the department of
agriculture has issued a report concern
ing the reclamation of waste land in
Europe by tree planting. This report
has been issued In order to show tho
advancement made in conquering this
problem in foreign countries and that
the same may be done in this country.
The report says in part:
Europe is conquering the waste land
problem by planting trees Every year
thousands of acres OF land are being
reclaimed In this way by the leading
countries and put in condition prepar-
in the years to come.
Not only many previously forested
areas which had been cut over have
been planted up, but a number of coun-
tries are devoting their energies also
to establishing forest cover on dunes
and other waste lands. and in fact. on
all land which is more valuable for pro-
ducing timber than for other purposes.
France has been one OF the foremost
European countries in reforestation, es-
pecially in the mountains. where plant
Ing has been powerful factor in con-
trolling torrents and regulating stream
flow. The state each year buys uncul-
tivated lands in the mountain regions
and up to January, 1907. it had acquired
100000 acres In this way.
Communes, associations, and private
individuals are also assisted in reforest-
alton work by grants of money. and by
supplies of plants and seeds. Altogether
249. 600 acres have been planted through
this public assistance. Complete ex-
emption from taxation for long period
of years is granted in the case of planta-
lions made on the tops and slopes of
mountains. A reduction of three-fourths
for all land planted or sown. whatever
its situation, is also made.
One of the most striking examples of
the results of planting waste lands is
furnished by the reforestation of the
"Karst' in Austria.
The Karst was a stretch of barren
limestone lands comprising some co.
900 acres in the hilly country along the
Austrian shores of the Adriatic sea.
For centuries 1t had furnished the ship
timber and other wood supplies of Ven
ice, but excessive cutting, together with
burning and pasturing, had left 1t a
waste almost beyond recovery.
In 1855 the government began to offer
help to landowners who would under
take forest planting there. Taxes were
RENTED for periods of years, technical
advice was given and plant material as
well as money were supplied.
At present over 100000 acres, or two
thirds of the Karst, are under forest.
partly as a result of planting, at a cost
of s. or 80 an acre, and partly as q
result of protection which made natural
recuperation possible.
Germany as whole does not have SO
much waste land which II is necessary
to plant The Germans have been prac-
ticing forestry for SO long a time that
the greater part of the available land
is already covered with forests. Some
work, however, Is done along this line
During the six years from 1901 to 1906
| about GOO acres of land suitable foS
forestry were acquired in Prussia, al
/ though a part of this was already wood
! ed.
In Denmark no fixed appropriation is
| made for acquiring waste lands, but in
| the last rs years over 5000 acres have
been purchased and recently the annual
| cost of planting has amounted to over
$4,000 Tree planting on the dunes along
the coast of Jutland for the purpose
of protection from drifting sand is con-
tinuously going on That the work pays
is shown by the fact that during the
last 10 years the average annual profit
from all state forest lands has been
nearly 100000
| Other European countries are constant
| ly doing similar planting work, switz-
erland for example. creates protection
| forests wherever possible by planting,
ana whenever forests are converted into
farming and pasture lands an equal area
may be ordered reforested.
Putting every acre Of land to its best
| use is the idea about which the whole
policy of the conservation of national
| resources revolves and in the future the
| planting up of waste tracts In the Unit
| ed States is sure to be carried on ex-
| tensively by private owners as well as in
! the national forests and on state lands.