The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-09-17
FORESTER HAYNES
FAvORS STATE
OWNERSHIP
Says State Should Own Princi-
pal Mountain Ranges
TO ESTABLISH PRESERVES
Nursery at Burlington Has Over :
Million Young Pine Trees for
Sale at SIS per 1000

Austin F. Halves of Burlington,
state forester, was in town Wednes
day and Thursday making an inspec-
ton of forestry conditions in this sec
ton. While here he went to Wood
| ford and looked over the forests In
the vicinity of the city and Red
Mill district. Mr.. Halves is making
circuit of the state in order to become
familiar with conditions in every
county. 1t is his first visit to Ben
nington county and besides this town
he will inspect conditions in Manches-
ter, Peru, Arlington and other parts
before his return.
In speaking of conditions in this
section, Mr.. Halves said that he found
the same carelessness in cutting off
timber as in other parts of the
state. Where lumbermen have gotten
out logs it has been the custom to cut
off every tree and leave none of the
younger pine or spruce for seeding
purposes. As result The second
growth is practically all hard wood OF
much less value than tae original
growth. In some instances tracts are
so closely cut that no second growth
appears and the land is left barren.
| AS remedy for the harm that has
already been done to our forests by
the methods of numbering in vogue
| for years. the state forester suggested
the planting of young trees either in
open lands or cutting off the second
growth of hard wood and replacing
II with pine. In order to supply the
demand of people interested in the
prese rvation of forests the depart
ment of forestry has established
nursery at Burlington. At present its
capacity is 1900 900 trees of white
pine a rapidly growing variety and val
liable for building material. 1t is the
plan of the state forester to sell these
trees for planting to all applicants at
the nominal price of 81 per 1000.
Interest in this plan is already
shown in this section. A. J, Dewey,
Mr.. Halves said. is planning to set out
a large number of young trees on his
timber land in Woodford next spring
1t is hoped that other local lumber
men will avail themselves of this OPP
| portunity.
In order to get people interested
the state forester believes a state pre-
serve should be secured in every coun-
| ty. At present the forest department
has not sufficient funds to purchase
large tracts of land. In order TO fac
ilitate the plans of the department an
effort is being made to interest veal
thy men throughout the state to give
cumberland to be converted into state
preserves. Land secured in this man
ner will be considered by the state In
the same light as a college endow-
ment or gift and the preserve will
| bear the name of the donor. The lum-
Der on these tracts will be cut of and
sold by contract under supervision of
the state officials.
That the state should own all the
principal mountain ranges is the be-
lief of Mr. Halves. If such were the
case and tne timber cut off according
to advanced ideas of forestry, no care
less methods being allowed the for
ests and water power of the state
could be preserved indefinitely. New
York was among the first states to
adopt this plan of forest preserve. The
empire state owns at present over a
million acres in the Adirondacks. The
national government is also the own
er of vast areas of forest land in the
west which are being conducted in
manner similar to that advocated by
the state forester.
Although Bennington county has
more forest land than any other coun-
ty in the state. except Essex but lit
tie interest is shown in forestry In
this section. The greatest problem
confronting the department is the lack
of spirit shown in cooperating with
the state. The people of Windsor and
Windham counties are showing the
greatest amount of interest in the
work and consequently will reap the
greatest benefits.
With the exception of careless
methods of numbering, forest fires
have done more damage to Vermont
forests than any other cause. There
should be no delay in putting out fires
when first discovered. When once a
forest fire gets good start
1t is almost impossible to stop
its ravages until it burns itself out
or is stopped by rain.
The following example of careless
ness in putting out fires in forests
was quoted by Mr.. Halves. On July
18TH man in Lamoille county start
ed a fire to burn out a stump which
smouldered in the woods for a month.
During the dry weather in August 1t
flared up into a fierce blaze and did
much damage before gotten under
control.
In concluding Mr.. Halves said he
was travelling throughout the state
not only in order to get acquainted
with conditions in every section but
to try to arouse interest in the plans
of preservation as outlined by the
state board. Cooperation between
the state and it's citizens would do
mucn to preserve Vermont forests and
ultimately it's water supply and pow