The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-11-11

TREE PLANTING IN CHINA.

| AANA1G ELAIN lNAJ LIN NINA.
| WASHINGTON, D. c., November 9Th,
In considering the progress of the almost
worldwide movement for protection OF
forests, an interesting review has Just
been made of the work in China, conn
try which is SO often cited as an example
OF the evil effects OF deforestation.
In portion of the Celestial Kingdom
earnest efforts are now being made IN
re-establish forest cover by planting.
Consul Wilbur T., Gracey of Tsingtau,
China, reports that the Germans in that
region are making successful attempts
at reforestatlon. The success of the
work was practically assured at the
start, for to Germany is given the credit
for having the highest developed system
OF forestry, and it was natural to expect
that the long experience in forest work
in the Fatherland would lesson prelimi-
nary experimentation and hasten pro-
gross in China.
When Tsingtau was occupied by the
Germans about eleven years ago the hills
were found bare and barren, with onlv
sporadic growth of scrub pine and weeds.
Plans for reforestation were at once
made, and about 1856 acres have al
! ready been planted. About half of this
is planted in acacias, the balance in pine
larch, walnut, oak, ash, naples and al
ders. So successful has this planting
been that the point has already been
reached where the sale of timber can be
made. Small branches are sold for fire
wood and some of the timber is used for
mining purposes. The sale and exporta-
ton of acacia is expected to become a
considerable source of revenue during
the next few years.
1t is particularly remarkable that this
work should have been so successful in
view of the difficulties to which the plan
tation was subjected The rainfall is
light and lack of moisture considerably
retarded the development Of the trees.
By far the worst enemies, however, were
insects. Various species of caterpillars
and other insects have been so destruc-
tive that thousands of Chinese boys and
women are now engaged annually to de-
stroy them. Various measures of pre-
vention have been tried, such as placing
girdles of glue on the trees, but these
have not been effective and it was found
necessary to resort to systematic de-
struction of the insects by hand.
During 1908 over seven million cater
pillars were gathered by hand, smashed,
covered with lime, and afterwards used
as fertilizer. This method has been sue
cessful in protecting the greater part of
the plantations, but on the mountains on
the border of the territory the trees are
eaten bare. Acacias appear to withstand |
the attacks of the insects better than |
any other species and the SUBMITS of the
mountains are now being planted with
these trees in an effort to check future
destruction. In addition to these enc
mics, Chinese thieves are another source |
of difficulty, and on one occasion a band
of thirty-six thieves was captured in the
act of stealing wood.
In spite of these drawbacks, however,
the work has been so successful that the |
Chinese Government is now undertaking
forestry schemes in number of places |
under advice from German experts. This
work centers about Mukden, Manchuria,
where success has already been obtained
with acacias and experiments are now
being made with other trees. The first
Chinese forest school was established at
Mukden two years ago. Six hundred and
twenty-five acres have already been set
apart for cultivation, and PATIO acres
are to be purchased for afforestation.
Three large mines in China, in the
provinces Of Chill and Shansi, which are
under the management of Europeans,
are making plans for afforestation, and
the Shantung Railway is planting acacias
along 26O miles Of its track. This, how
ever, is simply a beginning of the work,
and the Chinese Government now has in
contemplation the Inauguration of extern
sive afforestation work in different parts
of China.
IA ss-s 90 sa y Ee9gs s.aess Iesff1g9.