Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-16
THE BLACK FOREST OF BADEN.

Probably the most famous forest in tina
world is the Black Forest Of Southern
Germany, forest with which innumer-
able early legends Of the Teutorfic people,
are connected; and which has now be-
come the Mecca of all foresters, because
of the development there of modern for.
estry to it's highest efficiency This for
est region. embracing a considerable por.
ton of the two States, Baden and Wurt.
temberG. should he of interest TO Yer.
monters because of the similarity Of
natural conditions and the demonstrating
of what can be done in our own State In
the way Of developing natural resources.
This is a mountainous region with eleva-
lions about the same as those of our own
Green Mountains, the highest In Baden
being about 5000 feet. The general char
acter Of the country is also similar to ouI
own, for 1t is not an unknown forest, az
is often supposed, but a region whoss
mountains are largely forested, with rich
agricultural valleys between and pleas
ant villages scattered about The agr-
cultural and forest interests are closely
related, the people working part Of the
time In the fields and part in the forest.
In the State Of Baden, which includet
some splendid farm land in the Rim.
Valley, IS per cent of the total area g
forest. The principal trees are fr.
spruce, beech and larch in the noun
tains. and pine, oak and ash in the VAL
leys. During tho last 30 years the metho1
o. management has Increased the per-
centage of conifers ny 10 per cent they
| having proved more profitable than tho
hardwoods In the favorable climate OF
| these mountains, by wise cutting meth
DDS, n complete stand IF young Ar and
| spruce Is secured by natural seeding. 81
| comparatively little planting is done.
! These forests are considered mature when
they reach an age OF from ~ to 1oo years
and ire gradually removed before that
! age BY a series Of thinning a remark
able annual growth of four cords per
acre have been secured in some fir for
ests, and two cords in beech forests A
recent study made by the Vermont Ex-
pertinent Station showed that our hard
woods rarely attain ! growth of one cord
per acre under natural conditions, al
though our soil and climate are equally
favorable
| In the government forests of Baden, the
cut. during the past 30 years, has been
| increased by % per cent. and the aver
age value of wood has also increased at
the rate of 2 per cent compound interest
The gross returns of the State forests
have doubled in the last 30 years to IS 90
per acre, and since the expenses have not
increased proportionatelv the net revenue
has more than doubled during the period
and was s5.23 per acre In 1907.
All forest property in Baden Is under
surveillance, and with few exceptions
the municipal and corporation forests
are directly managed by the state. Pri.
vate property is only so far under control
as to require a permit for clearing. which
is rarely denied, especially when repiant-
Ing Is contemplated. OF tho total forest
area, Il per cent. is owned by the govern
ment, State and municipal; At per cent,
by corporations. II per cent. by large and
% per cent. by small private holders. The
State forests amount to 240 145 acres.
Two American species are being extern
sively planted in the Black Forest, oul
New England white pine and the Wash
ington red fir, or Oregon pine as It is
sometimes called. Both of these grow
very rapidly In the German climate
Like Vermont the Black Forest region
is very beautiful, and is a favorite vacq-
ton ground for thousands of Europeans
Americans might do we'll 10 spend time
among these green hills as well a in thu
srander scenery Of the Alps Splend u
highways throughout the forests. hlil
for the removal of timber, are eXcellen
for automobiles and the system of graded
trails makes tramping a national recrea
ton. There is perhaps no country whicF
, can better serve as an example for Yer
mont in Its development of natural re
Il sources, than Baden.