The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-02-22


splendid young white woman who con-
secrated her life to the welfare of the
Indians.
In 1906 DR.. Letchworth consulted
with many friends, and a year later
decided to present his estate to the
people of the state of New York, re-
tanning a life tenancy, which was ter
minated by his death in December,
1910. A condition of the gift was that
it was to be in the permanent custody
of the American Scenic and Historic
Preservation society, which organiza-
ton is preparing to make the gift of
the greatest possible TINA value to
the people of the nation.
1t is intended that the value of the
arboretum will not merely consist in a
demonstration of the results that may
be expected to follow forest plantation
of various kinds of trees, but that our
exact knowledge of tree life will be
enhanced. Skilled observations and
systematic records will be kept; the
measure of each growing tree will be
taken at stated times; their liability
to disease will be observed, as will
their capacity for seed bearing, their
behavior in pure stands, and when
growing with other kinds of trees,
their influence upon the forest floor.
Not only will the information thus
made available be placed at the dis
posal of those who can visit Letch-
worth park, but carefully prepared,
non-technical circulars, giving the re-
suits of all such studies, will be sent
to those interested in forestry.
The work of planting the arboretum
is in charge of Overton w. Price, who,
for ten years, was Clifford Pinchot's
right-hand man while he was at the
head of the forestry service of the
United States. He has had much ex-
perience with practical forestry, hav-
ing graduated from the forest school
at Munich, Bavaria, and having had
three years work abroad under the
late Sir Dietrich Brands, former in
! spector general Of the forests of In
dia. The director of he arboretum is
Charles M. Dow, a prominent pub
Usher of jamestown, n. Y.
Nearly $1,000 trees have been
planted since the arboretum had
it's beginning as such. The director
has entered into an agreement with
the United States department of agri-
culture, whereby an observer from the
forest service will make frequent
scientific observations, and the re-
ports he will make will be published
as government bulletins. The depart
ment will also furnish several thou
sand seedlings annually.
The work at LetchWorth will prob
ably give new impetus to the move
ment in favor of reforestation in the
United states. Although we are
drawing heavier proportionate drafts
upon our forests than any other ma
ton, at the same time the United
States lags behind in provisions for
future forests. The world is now
planting a million acres of forest trees
a year. In some places it is to replace
forests that have fallen before the ak.
In other places fire has been the grim
destroyer of the trees that are being
replaced. In still other places bare
hills that within the ken of mortal
never bore trees before, are
made to support their share of the
worlds trees. In Asia, in South
Africa, in Australia, everywhere, trees
are being planted by people who live
more than a day at a time.
In the Black forests of South Ger
many one may see long rows of girls
) and women in quaint peasant dresses,
moving steadily forward like com
panies of soldiers. planting the little
trees that will in years to come be the
monarchs of the forests. In India one
may see groups of t%urbanned, bare
legged East Indians planting the teak
in the rich soil that borders it's his
toric rivers. In China and in Japan
he may behold hundreds of coolies
planting the seedlings that are des-
tined to solve a serious problem of
the orient. kaffirs in South Africa,
bearded and ~hlanketed Cossacks on
the bleak steppes OF Russia, all join
in the worldwide tree-planting army.
But Americans? Compared with the
treasures they have reaped from the
forests, measured by the needs with
which their country is confronted,
Judged by the intelligent standards
that usually are attributed to them,
they number the fewest among all the
tree planters. The United States gov
eminent has some tree planters in the
forest service, a few OF the leading
railroad companies have undertaken
practical forestry, and some land
owners who have lived ahead of their
day and generation are following suit
but altogether they would constitute
a very little group in the great throng
of the worlds trees planters.
The friends Of forestry point out that
these men and women of the world
are not planting forests for eminent
sake; that Germany does not plant
many trees for cach one that is cut
down simply because a forest is beau
tiful; that India does not spend four
million dollar a year in planting teak
simply to while away the time; that
Russia is not forcing it's evergreen
forests further north over the bleak
steppcs of Siberia simply with the hope
of bringing more cheer to its lands
of Punishment; that France is not re-
verduring the Alps simply that the