The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1909-01-02
GOOD REPRODUCTION
or LONGLEHF PINE.

10 Florida goes the distinction of
getting the first national forest ere
ated east of the Mississippi river.
PRESIDENT Roosevelt has just signed a
proclamation setting aside and nam
ing the Ocala national forest in Marion
county in eastern Florida and another
proclamation creating the Dakota ma
uonal forest in Billings county, North
Dakota. lnasmuch 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 land will be put under
scientific forest administration. There
are now 19 states, and Alaska having
national forests.
before the creation of the Ocala, in
Florida, the two forests in Arkansas,
the Ozark and the Arkansas, were the
eaSternmost national forests. Prac-
ucally all the other national forests
are In the Rocky mountain and the
racine coast states. The Florida for
est has an area of 201,4S0 acres, of
"Alch about one-fourth has been taken
up under various land laws 1t covers
plateau between the st. Johns and
OChlaWaha rivers and at no point is
an elevation exceeding $50 feet above
sea level obtained. The area is by ma
lure better fitted for the production of
forest growth than for any other pur-
pose. Nearly all of the area, however,
seems particularly we'll adapted to the
growth of sand pine, which is even
now replacing the less valuable
species, and with protection from fire
Almost the entire area will in time un-
uouotedly be covered with a dense
stand OF this species. The long-leaf
pine, much more valuable CONNER
claI tree than the sand pine appears
rather sparsely on this forest and is
cuhaned principally to the lower fiat
Iands along the streams on the bor-
ders Of the forest.
IN addition to the pines and scrub
growths, bald cypress, cabbage palmet-
70 and tupelo gum. gradually changing
10 water oak, ash, elm, magnolia, hick-
ory and maple are found bordering
me numerous ponds and lakes which
are scattered abundantly throughout
the confines Of this forest.
Fire has played a very important
part in bringing about the present
poorly forested condition of The OcaIa.
as year after year large ires have
burned uninterruptedly over this tract.
Killing all vegetation and consuming
Tie humus of the soil Naturally pro.
'"cted portions which have not been
subject to the flames prove positively.
however, that the soil will rapidly re-
sl3nd to little care taking and that
the prevention of fires would eventual
" mean the reforestation Of practical
y the entire orea
No sawmill operations have been
conducted on the area included in the
Ocala national forest. Turpentining
by boxing is carried on over contiru.
Gus areas and through the careless
and antiqua,ed methods used the ~
iu'e pine crop of the adjoining region
is greatly jeopardiked The soil is of
".lle value for agricultural purposes
and about the orlr crop which can he
Produced that VIII be az lasting value
Is sand pine and with proper care and
attention there should in time be
valuable forest of this species
The nsw DAKOTA raticrA. tJrpst con.
s'sts Of l4lsG acres in the Bad lands
region. It is located IN Billings coun.
y and les an euual distance be- tween
ne Northern Pacific railroad or tbs