The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-05-20
CHANGE IN FOREST o W


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II has been remarked by many writ
en upon forestry that when n spe
cles OF tree has been removed its place
Is regularly taken BY trees OF another
kind. Those who delight In forest
landscape cannot fall { observe the
same change This Is accounted for by
some On the superstition that the soil
has become impoverished OF elements
that supported the original growth. and
that 1t Is no longer suited TO the
further production OF such forests. This
theory Is In but small part true. In
almost every instance a forest-covered
soil is being Increased and enriched for
the continuance OF whatever growth is
at any time upon It. The change OF
species Is owing to change in conditions.
Everywhere IN the Northern States
where a mixed growth OF hard wood
and OF soft wood was native to the
son. the change has been all In one
direction. The hard wood has given
way TO the soft. Persons who have
observed with any thought the appear
ance OF New England landscape for
fifty years or more are well aware that
the hills are now wearing darker robes
than they were when the now Old men
we're boys
The same thing has been observed In
England. In writing about The New
Forest" Horatio G. Hutchinson says:
The Scotch hr has become so plenti-
ful since its Introduction in 1873 that
one can hardly imagine such rapid and
extensive propagation on the part OF
a forest tree"
Everywhere the change Is In the
same direction, from the declduous
10 the evergreen: that is. from
those OF the falling leaf to those that
Keep their verdure all the year round
This results from the practice OF pas
turing woodlands to domestic cattle
These animals eat greedfly every young
and maple that they can ind
They have no relish for the young fr
md spruce trees. with their dry and +.
foliage Then. again. the resins !
By the ~evergreens seem TO be .
to all animals except sheep :
nd deer. These win browse upon ever :
he pitch-pire under stress Of hunger, :
Then snow Is deep on the ground :
In a state OF nature. OF under the :
usbandry OF theIsavages. a certain bal :
nee OF power was maintained among :
trees The squirrels ate the
eechnuts. acorns and spruce seeds with :
eemIngly equal zest. They made return :
1r their acquisitions upon the beeches
nd oaks by burying at intervals the
uts and acorns- None OF the seeds OF b
Tergreens needed n such planting. A
hey are all Of them light. and are fur s.
shed with wings. so that the wind ID
lat shakes them from the rome c~rries u
lem sometimes for miles Wherever n
happen to alight upon the soil. ST
terminate and take root. They nj
ed no covering. Ia
In the New Forest Of England the b
liant population has enjoyed right OF Sc
'annage.- that Is. Of p~asturing pigs CT
the woods These animals eat all Of
3 nuts and acorns they can find. and Of
" few seeds escape them. W
Nature has not given the pig the IN III
net OF the squirrel to plant now and tn
en- a tree for his future supply. nor at
s the animal seIf-denial to lead him to-
forego the present qualification OF
appetite Happily. in this country nii
, system Of 'pannage" has been little cel
lcticed and yet It is safe to say that an
beech woods can be found except as
land that has been enclosed from BY
OK Of all kinds II would be sad 10 W,
IS from the landscape the fine pro IT
lions and the splendid foliage Of sul
: OF the native ~deciduous trees. SIN
COZ