Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-10-15
FRIDAY. OCTOBER IS, 1909.
GAINING on Forestry Problem.

1t is extremely gratifying TO all those
who have the welfare of the state at
heart to notice the renewed interest
in forestry which is being taken by the
state papers. This is subject on
which few enthusiasts had well-nigh
shouted themselves hoarse, and which
now seems likely to assume its rightful
Importance as state policy.
Judging from the manner in which
the Herald's entire edition of August
2Sth was sold out, within a few hours
after publication, it is safe to say that
a good many people read the account
of the speeches at the grange picnic at
Lake Bomoseen, which was published
on that day. All the speeches were of
Importance but nothing more vital to
the welfare of the state was uttered
than the modest, unassuming, words of
State Forester Halves, who came at
the end of a long program, but who
deserved an hours consideration in
stead of the few minutes which he
elected to use.
At the risk of submitting the same
matter twice, the Herald reprints the
paragraphs from that account, which
deal with his speech
Mr.. Halves first called attention to
the unequalled attractions of Vermont
as a summer resort and said the beau
ty of her peaks depended good deal
on the forests, as well as necessary to
the preservation of her brooks and
streams. He thought the state should
own all the principal peaks and cut the
forests in accordance with the rules of
the department.
Mr.. Halves called attention to the
state forests of Europe, where enor-
nous revenues accrued every year
from the forest preserves. Important
as the subject is from this standpoint,
these preserves would be still more
valuable as an object lesson. There
are thousands of acres in the state
that were originally cleared for farms
but which are now producing nothing
and which ought to be planted in white
pine, Norway spruce or European arch,
The state nursery in Burlington has
now nearly a million and a half of
seedlings on the way, and, within a
short time will be able to furnish
about half a million seedlings year at
cost of So to So per thousand Plant
ed 1900 trees to the acre, the cost
would be about so per acre and the in
vestment would be like an insurance
policy, always increasing in value.
Of just as much Importance as re-
foresting is the preservation and i'm
provement of the forest we have. The
weak trees and the undesirable trees
ought 10 be cut out, and the lumber cut
of the state, which is now steadily de-
creasing, ought to be kept up and even
increased.
Here are some questions intelligently
opened up which every newspaper will
find worth discussing State owner
ship of great peaks like Killington,
Pico, Shrewsbury, Mansfield, Camels
Hump, Ascutney and others would be
an object lesson in forestry that would
be of inestimable value. Only very
small proportion of people know the
possibilities of the new state depart
ment, and, while the large sums needed
to set apart those mountains might not
be Immediately Forthcoming, the Herald
confidently anticipates that the an
nouncement of such policy would re-
suit in such gifts to the state as Ellen S
mountain near Middlebury, which is
now forest preserve through the gift
of Joseph Battell
A great many people would give the
state mountains if they were assured of
the fact that they would be preserved.
The most valuable suggestion in the
Halves speech was that in relation to
refOresting with seedlings from the
state nursery. At $40 the acre, no
farmer is likely to secure a better in
surance than a few side hills and waste
pastures, set with seedlings according
to the directions of the forester and
growing up to young timber The mat
ter in regard to forest fires has already
been considered by this paper at some
length.
Everything considered, the problem
of forestry stands better chance OF
getting a hearing and trial today than il
ever did before. - Rutland Herald.