The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-12
Forest Service of This Gov.
eminent Issues Import.
ant Statement.
HOW TO USE WASTE LANDS
THOUSANDS OF TREES CAN 0G
PLANTED AND WILL ASSIST
GREATLY IN RECLAMATION OF
BARREN COUNTRY.
american News Scryicel

american News Service)
Washington. Dec. 1.-THE Forest
Service OF the Department of Agricul-
ture has issued n report concerning
the reclamation Of waste land In Eau
rope by tree planting This report
has been issued in order to show the
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 be-
Ing reclaimed in this way by tho lead
Ing countries. and put In q condition
preparatory to a profitable timber har-
vest in the years to come.
Not only many previously forested
areas which had been cut over have
been planted up. but 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 valu.
able for producing timber than for 9TH
err purposes.
France = Leader.
France has been one of the foremost
European countries In reforestation,
especially In the mountains, where
planting has been . powerful factor In
controlling currents and regulating
| stream flow. The state each year buys
uncultivated lands In the mountain re-
gions. and up to January, 1907, 1t had
l a.
Communes. associations and private
individuals are also assisted in refor-
estation work by grants Of money. and
by supplies of plants and seeds. Al
together 249!OOO acres have been
planted through this public assistance
Complete exemption from taxation for
a long period Of years il granted In the
case OF plantations made Of the tops
and slopes Of mountains. A reduc-
ton Of three fourths for all land plant
ed or sown. whatever its situation. Is
also made.
4 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 . stretch OF barren
limestone land comprising 5OONOO
acres in the hilly country along the
Austrian shores of the Adriatic sen.
For centuries 1t had furnished the ship
timber and other wood supplies Of We
nice. but excessive cutting. together
with burning and pasturing. had LEFT
1t waste almost beyond recovery.
In 1866. the government hegan to
offer help to land owners who would
undertake forest planting there. Taxes
were RENTED for periods OF years.
technical advice was given. and plant
material rs well as money were sup
piled.
Great Forest Land.
thirds OF the Kast. are under forest.
partly as q result of planting. It = cost
Of eight or ten dollars IN acre. and
partly as = result Of protection which
made natural recuperation possible
Germany az a whole does not have %
! much waste land which 1t is necessa-
~ to plant. The Germans have been
) practicing forestry for SO long q time
that the greater part OF the available
} land Is already covered with forests
Some work. ho~ever, IL done along
: this line. During che six years from
1901 to 1906. about 10000 acres Of
land suitable for forestry were acquir-
ed in Prussia. although . part Of this
; was already wooded.
!; In Denmark no fixed appropriation
, is made for acquiring waste lands. but
. in the last twenty-five years, over a.
i 600 acres have been purchased. and
/ recently the annual cost for planting
. has amounted to over 1900. Tree
: planting on the dunes along the coast
OF Jutland for the purpose Of protection
: from drifting sand II continuously go
: ing on. That the work pays Is shown
by the fact that during the last ten
. years the average annual profit from
; all state forest lands has been nearly
: 100000
= Other European. countries are con-
stantly doing similar planting work.
( switzerland. for example. creates pro-
lection forests wherever possible b.
5 planting. and whenever forests ara
: converted into farming and pasture
8 lands an equal area may be ordered
| reforested-
FL Putting every acre OF land to tn
, best use Is the idea about which the
: whole policy Of the conservation Of ~
$ tional resources revolves. and in the
, future the planting mp Of waste tracts
E in tho United States II sure to be car.
D Red on extensively BY private owners
. al well as in the national forests aDA
: On state lands.
: At this time last year the steel cas
! builders had orders for sixty thous-
: and cars THIS year, according to tn
+ Railway and Engineeesing RevloW.
E orders have amounted to 100000. and
: work already contracted for win hoep