The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-01-22


fourth, sheep, cows and goats Craze
together Each year the previous re-
serve will be ready for sheep and the
other areas each advance one stage, so
that, eventually, the entire barren Her
zegovna will be fertile and green
Some dozen years ago we intro
duced the latest innovation, i. e., the
resurrection idea. A field is taken by
the government, cleared of everything,
declared reserve and then the weeds,
which had previously been crushed by
the nibbling of cattle and smaller
herds so that they sent out several
sideshoots, instead of one main stalk,
are permitted to rise. Then such
plants as are harmful to the majority
are cut out and the land allowed to
green with the others. The venture is
a paying one and thousands of acres
have been covered by the process.
Still another way Of fighting the
havoc done through the centuries by
the goat is in sowing vast amount OF
seeds over the barrens by hand. We
have very strict forestry laws in this
region and violations are subject to
| Imprisonment. Instead OF failing the
men, however they are set to gather
| ing seeds, which is far more pleasant,
being out In the open, than remaining
in the cells Consequently, if but one
wild seed in 500 thrives, the venture
pays. 1t costs the government moth
ing and the produce of that one seed
will help spread the good work in
definitely.
In the north Of Herzegovina there
is still some primeval forest that is
being cared for and made productive
by like ingenious methods.
Water Must Be Conserved.
CONSERVATION Of the water, too,
needs to be considered along with the
, forest. In the winter we now have
too much water by far in the deserts
and in the summer not nearly enough.
. Streams dry up, and when it rains
the water is sucked into the soil be-
h fore it can trickle down the noun
!. tains, the stones carrying it OF and
d causing it to disappear until Deem
Der, when the country is flooded.
q Government cisterns have to be built,
d in consequence, each city keeping her
|. cisterns clean. and in July and August
t each year laws are passed regulating
n how much water each householder
e may draw.
# AT such times the goats and cattle
Is are driven into the mountains by the
q children, six to eight hours distance
to find running water and pasturage
le Into the Bosnian Alps the cattle and
" sheep and horses and goats are driven
te together. The pastures there are
"a guarded by the government, and 1t is
ID fixed just who may pasture in glver
n area and exactly how many head o.
m animals he may bring into such
re space, in order to prevent the ruina
n. ton Of grazing The end of April wit
"a nesses thousands of goats driven into
he the mountains for the summer. Herd
ers from each family accompany, ant
m. these spend the summer on the peaks
ne making cheese and white, round cake
I'll of lard or butter, from which the fol-
on will live in the winter"
Now, though, the war has change
an. all this. Most Of the goats have bee
me driven off, along with the cattle an
nd horses, for the armies of Franz joe
ed What remain must be tended by tn
in women, who must also look afte
nd their homes, tend the wounded as the
te, come back, and bury the dead Near
ITO while the reserves are being plundere
led by such animals as remain and tn
re-. guards to these are busy elsewher
Of Havoc, ruin will result, and destru
ton from which the region will M
recover for weary decades to come.