The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-03-23

menced ,has ok Is tn.e end. 5 .ell
81 ciona re.ate - tn rc-foresto,tof
. the abaldo ned hin side fars.:s,
~tefracing Of thsse hillside: =
pIoushing and shanow,r culsiV.s.5a
which viii cause the grouno - -
effectively absorb rain water. aii "y
rotation Of crops.
Forests.
There We're q number of forestry
bills introduced relating to the protec-
ton Of our forests from fire by direct
cooperation between the State and
the counties and towns; to the re
planting Of abandoned farm lands,
and to the giving of Instructions to
owners Of forests how to make them
more productive and how TO perpetuate
them. The only general act that was
passed was the Fry bill. This per
mitS owners of mountain forest lands
that are above an elevation OF -,0Ut
feet to have, on petition, their land
set aside by the government as Il STATE
forest. This land is then to be man
aged in a name provided by thu
geological and economic survey. Upon
the payment to the county school fund
Of the county in which the land -
located, Of One-half cent per acre t1eY
can have wardens appointed who Viii
have the power of deputy Sheritis.
Any violation of any State or county
forest law on such State forests is
punishable by a minimum fine Of So
if before a magistrate, and $50 i be-
fore the Superior court.
There were q number of county
forestry bills passed, but none other
of a general nature. one bill OF CON
siderable Importance to the State was
passed. which relates to the lands be
longing to the State and under the
control of the State Board of Educa-
ton. This law makes the penalty for
Illegal cutting Oh the lands belonging
to the State Board of Education a sum
equal to three times the value OF the
timber that has been cut
Although the special acts relating
to forestry work We're not passed,
which would have enabled the Seolcg-
icaI ana economic survey to carry Ga
the forestry work more extensively,
this department. will, however, con
tinue work in forestry. and it nay be
interesting to give q brief outline OF
such work. The survey believes that
there is q large area of land III North
Carolina which is better situated and
adapted for the growth Of nlber than
for farming, and that these forest
lands form one of the States most val
liable permanent assets. 1t also be
leVes that these forest areas, if prop
erly managed, are capable Of not only
returning steady and remuneratiVe
earnings to their owners. but also OF
extensive investments in furniture
factories. Considering the forests
from tins point of view, it makes them
permanent ana not speculative invest
-TaentS. for the investment is secured
Ivy the actual growth of the amber
on the land, and is not dependent upon
the appreciation in the value of the
stumpage. OF course any suc APP
probation makes the permanent in
Ncstment just 50 nuc greater. The
survey viii attempt by publication and
lectures to demonstrate to the people
Of North Carolina hat certain lands
are better adapted for growing forests
tina for farming, and also to demon
strate to them that it is more profita-
BILE to keep them III forests than t.
attempt TO farm them.
Another line of work in connection
with the forests is the prevention OF
forest fires. One OF the greatest
dangers to cut over lands Us we'll as
to forest areas is fires. We would,
therefore, urg owners Of timber lands
to adopt methods of protection against
fires and to use every endeaV0r posi-
BILE to have the present forest fire laws
enforced, while at the same time at
tempting to secure more
ones. IN managing timber lands,
owners are urged to apply business
methods in order to increase tile pro
ductivity of their properties. IN or
binary methods of numbering every
other consideration is SubOrdinated 10
cheapeninG the cost of logging. II,
therefore, the forests are to be made
permanently productive, numbering
must be conducted SO as not to injure,
any more than absolutely necessary.
the new trees which form the basis
for the successive cuttings. Methods
of cutting should also be in vogue.
whicn Will increase the Guality OF the
timber and future cuttings and 1T
the same time. secure the maximum
WELD per acre. The geological and
economic survey desire to cooperate
with owners Of timber land and 10
show them in the forest and by means
of special working plans the best meth