The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-11-12
4 I
FROM EUROPE
o.
NO.. 8.
ENGLAND OBLIG ED TO REFORES1.

the peaty soil through which it passes.
But the engineers in charge are not
satisfied with even these good cOnol-
tions. Both corporations are plant
ing forest trees and have under con-
sideration plans to put the whole or
one and probably both areas into Tor
est. One Of the engineers writes: A
to he effect Of trees upon the yield
and quality Of the water collected. II
cannot be otherwise than benehclal.
There can be 10 doubt that, having
regard to the diminished evaporation
and other influences, a large percent
age Of rain will reach tho reservoirs
from forest areas than from the same
areas without trees. The quality or
the water will also be better, owing
to the soil on the slopes of the hills
being held together by the roots or the
trees, and the destructive effects or
the heavy rains in carrying down huge
masses Of clay and soil being pre-
vented" Already about 1000 acres
have been planted around one reser-
yoir and over 400 around the other.
This, though only just a beginning, is
enough to show that planting Is prac-
ticable and can be made both profit
able and beneficial.
Though planting on the Birrning-
ham and Liverpool watersheds Is be-
ing lone primarily to protect the
water supply Of these towns, the water
commissioners also have an eye to the
profit there is in growing timber for
market It has been estimated that
waste land, sue as is included in h
catchment area Of these city water
works can be made to yield an aver
age return in timber of from 50 to
$40 per acre a year from h time it
is planted, while under the present
management a rent Of less than SO
comic nov a - In 1onv noCa~ Crlv x
cents, is now received for the pastur-
age Of the few sheep that are allowed
to run upon it. The outlay will Of
course be considerable, for there can
be 10 returns for q long time, but after
forty years such a forest would be
self-supporting and when the main
crop of timber was cut all expenses,
would be paid, besides a profit Of eight
to ten dollars an acre.
The kinds Of trees planted are
chiefly European larch, Norway
spruce, Silver fir, Scotch pine and
beech, h latter usually mixed with
the spruce. larch. Or pine. Dur own
Douglas fir from the Pacific coast is
very rapidly and seems to thrive in
q variety Of situations. Strange to
say our eastern white pine, which is
| planted so extensively in parts Of Ger
many, does not do well in Wales.
though it is planted sparingly in
favorable situations.
Considerable expense Is incurred in
putting IN the young trees we'll; in wet
swampy places bitches are cut and
the lane drained; where there is a
, layer Of peat over the subsoil pit.
, ting" namely digging a hole down te
the subsoil and filing with minera.
/ SOIL is resorted to; while everywhere
q = ~ fryvf ju + olyan ont IN 0-Io,
1 to give the tree a good start Of thu
: surrounding grass. For two or three
l years after planting. the grass, fern
and small brush has to be cut away
> from the young trees with hook o
= scythe. Rabbits also have to b,
T fenced out with a small meshed wire
! as the English rabbits are much NOR,
destructive than our own souther,
: c~ottontail.
The cost OF planting OF these lands
> including ditching, pitting. CROWN,
2 the plants, etc, varies from $25 TO 81
. per acre. his seems prohibitve from
= an American point Of view, and on
handsome profits with such a larg
investment.
Planting in North Carolina car
however, be done much more cheaply
" but the expected return in value Q
= timber would also be less. The bene
y III 10 our watersheds rom plantln
q would, however, be much greater eve
n than in England, because we are IN
n able to get the dense turf ground Gov
s eT that is found everywhere over Their
so that we have to depend entirely Q
l. trees to protect the slopes from ere
sion and to enable the soil to absor
the rainfall more completely.
IS Planting trees for the production
IS timber alone. as Is done all oVe
~ Europe, Is not yet necessary with u
though before long 1t undoubtedly Wi
y. DE. II tho present reckless methods
"a handling the woodlands Of the Stat
< continue; but planting for the prote'
r ton and Improvement Of catchmea
N areas of waterworks Is strong
"a recommended wherever there Is n
III sufficient forest cover to prevent Il
rainfall running OH in guliies and Ell
= tering the feeding stream Or the re
III eFvofrs In 50 muddy q condition tn;
% IA o. unfit a3thoH m a-a-1~ 80 - r-~-A Z