Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-08-29
GERMAN FORESTRY
CONTINUED from Page One)

homes. People do not use wood as
eXtravagantly as we do on account
| of its cost. Fires are not maintained
in the homes in winter to such an ex-
tent as in Michigan, although climatic
conditions are about the same. The
temperature of the rooms is usually
cold for the American and fires i'll
hotels and public places command an
extra charge. The stump of the tree
is dug out by the roots and used for
wood and often for veneering pur-
poses in the manufacture of furniture,
which is done almost entirely by
hand.
The forests are often miles in ex-
tent When the trees by the process
of elimination to which | have re-
ferred are no longer removed, there
is absolutely nothing to obstruct the
view except the bodies OF the trees
themselves. Here then you see the
forests cultivated as a garden and the
lover of the woods here finds the
forest in its most perfect and lovely
condition.
"One of these large forests lies
upon three sides of the dorf or vii
lage of Dummerhutte, where | visited,
and through it lies the church way
leading TO the dorf three miles distant,
known as Pora, where the Lutheran
church is situated TO which the in
habitants of Dummerhutte attend
church. The church way by long
usage has become a public highway
and can be no longer disturbed. This
is interesting in showing the custom
of the people in attending church.
loved to visit these woods along the
churchway which was travelled by
my parents in going to church, and
where my mother picked flowers and
boughs. of which | have heard her
speak. in her childhood days. These
woods abound in beautiful flowers,
very much in all respects like the wild
Towers of our own states. Nothing
can be grander and more invigorating
than to visit these lovely woods in
the springt'me, and TO me. who loves
the woods, it is difficult to separate
ones self from it.
What the government has done
with the public forest, it has taught
the native settler to do with his own
On soil where agricultural pursuits
can be profitably conducted, forests
are not permitted TO be grown by
private owners. but upon unproduc-
tive soils, much like our sand lands
and higher up in the mountains in
Tyrol. Austria and Switzerland, you
will find the forest cultivation with
all the care shown by the government
itself The particular kind of tree
is cultivated which is adapted to the
character OF the soil and the altitude
OF the place From this forest the
native settler or peasant obtains fuel
and timber necessary for his needs
and he often cuts off a small portion
OF it in the winter time and sells it
TO meet the demands of trade.
The care shown by the peasant in
his work. the economy in it all and
thoroughness with which it is done,
affords a striking example of the con-
ditions that must some day charac-
terize our own country As | thought
Of the wonderful economy and the
marshalling the bountes OF nature by
these poor peasants, | could not help
but reflect upon the extravaganza
and wastefulness OF our own people
and the amount that we still have to
learn to make this country respond
in its bounty to the demands of
new progress which in the not far
distant future we must learn. Is it
not time that we begun to inaugurate
system Of thOrOughness in the con-
servation OF our resources. III the
cultivation OF soils for the purposes
which nature has adapted them? |
could not help but reflect upon the
extravaganza as | have known it in
central Michigan during my own life,
and | hope that the time is not far
distant when we may learn the lesson
from this frugal and contentcd peo-
pie to make our own country and
state in an agricultural and indus
trial way the equal of what it Is with
these foreign people. ! can not help
but believe that no greater opportu-
nifty for good lies open to any man
or woman than to educate our people
to make Our lands respond to the
possibilities which are open to us.
| have an ambition once more to
take up agricultural life and see if |
can not do something in a small way
to improve upon anything | have ever
done to mako orr forests and lands
respond to a rightful and frugal cul-
tivation. In my way of thinking, he
will be our benefactor who is the
pioneer in this method Of cultivation
of our soil"