The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-02-03
Retaining Waste Land.
What European Countries Are Doing in
This Direction.


lem by planting trees. Every year thou
sands of acres of land are being reclaim
ed in this way by the leading countries
and put in a condition preparatory to
profitable timber harvest in the years to
come.
Not only many previously forested
areas which have been cut over have
been planted up, but number of the
countries are also devoting their energies
to establishing forest cover on dunes
and other waste lands, and, in fact, on
all land which is more valuable for pro-
ducing timber than for other purposes.
France has been one of the foremost
European countries in reforestation, es-
pecially in the mountains, where planting
has been a powerful factor in controlling
torrents and regulating streamf1ow. The
State each year buys uncultivated lands
in the mountain regions and up to jan
uary. 1907. it had acquired SOB, 900 acres
IN this way. Communes, associations,
and private individuals are also assisted
in reforestation work by grants Of money,
and by supplies of plants and seeds. Al
together 249, 900 acres have been planted
through this public assistance. Com
nlete exemption from taxation for long
period Of years is granted in the case of
plantations made on the tops and slopes
Of mountains A reduction Of three
fourths for all land planted or sown,
whatever its situation, is also made.
One of the most striking examples of
the results of planting waste lands is
furnished by the reforestation of the
reKarst'' in Austria. The karst was
stretch of barren limestone lands COM
79rising some 800 900 acres in the billy
country along the Austrian shores of the
Adriatic Sea. For centuries it had fur
nished the ship timber and other wood
supplies of Venice, but excessive cutting,
together with burning and pasturing, had
eft it waste almost beyond recovery.
In 1865 the government began to offer
help to land owners who would under
take forest planting there. Taxes were
RENTED for periods of years, technical
advice was given, and plant material as
we'll as money were supplied.
At present over 10000 acres, or two
thirds of the Karst are under forest,
partly as a result of planting, at a cost
Of eight or ten dollars an acre, and
partly as a result of protection which
made natural recuperation possible. In
1884, Austria also passed reforestation
law to control torrents. This law car
ries an annual appropriation of 500, 900,
and extensive planting work has been
successfully carried out under it.
Germany as whole does not have so
much waste land which it is necessary to
plant. The Germans have been practic-
ing forestry for SO long time that the
greater part Of the available land is al
ready covered with forests Some work,
however, is done along this line. During
the six wears from 1901 to 1906 about
300. 900 acres Of land suitable for forestry
were acquired in Prussia, although a
part of this was already wooded. All
possible assistance is also given to com
munes and private owners in planting
work, and in 1908, $4,000 was appro-
priated for this purpose. Baden endeav-
ors to encourage forest planting by pro-
viding that all private waste lands, pas
lures. fields, and uplands planted with
timber. remain free from taxation for a
period of twenty years from the begin
ming of the first year of planting.
In Denmark no fixed appropriation is
made for acquiring waste lands, but in
Uhe last twenty-five years over $4,000
acres have Eeen purchased, and recently
Ihe annual cost for planting has amount
I'd to over S15, 600. Tree planting on the
purpose of protection from drifting sand
IS continuously going on. In addition to
the work which the State is doing, an
nual grants are made to the Danish
Heath Society, the special object of
which is to encourage tree planting in
Jutland. 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 by
planting, and whenever forests are con-
werted into farming and pasture lands
an equal area may be ordered reforested.
The great Empire Of Russia likewise
spends large sums annually in planting.
Belgium and little Holland are also active
in making their waste lands productive
through forest planting.
Putting every acre of land to its best
use is the idea about which the whole
policy of the conservation of nationa
resources revoves, and in the future the
planting up of waste tracts in the Unit.
ed States is sure to be carried on extern
sively by private owners as well as in
the National Forests and on State lands.
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cured Nasal Catarrh. The heavy feeling in
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