The state herald., 1915-01-22

neighbor has sheep and cows. In the
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. sc
that, eventually, the entire barren Her
zegovina will be fertile and green.
Some dozen years ago we intro
duced the latest innovation, /. 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
q 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 falling 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. II but one
wild seed in 500 thrives. the venture
pays. 1t costs the government moth
ing and the produce OF that one seea
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 II rains
the water Is sucked into the soil be
fore II can trickle down the noun.
tsins. the stones carrying Il on and
causing II to disappear until Decem.
Der. when the country is flooded.
Government cisterns have TO be built.
in consequence. each city keeping her
cistefns clean. and in July and August
each year laws are passed regulating
how much water each householder
may draw.
AT such times the goats and cattle
s.a driven into the mountains by the
children. six to eight hours distance,
to lind running water and pasturago
Into the Bosnian Alps the cattle ano
sheep and horses and goats are driven
together The pastures there are
guarded by the government. and II IL
liked Just who may pasture In u given
area and exactly how many head OF
animals he may bring into such
space. In order To prevent the ruIna.
tion OF grazing. The end OF April wit.
nesses thousands OF goats driven into
the mountains for the summer. Herd
ers from each family accompany. and
these spend the summer on the peaks,
making cheese and white. round cakes
OF lard or butter. from which the folk
will live In the winter"
Now. though. tho war has changed
NIL this. Most OF the goats have been
driven on. along with the cattle and
horses. for the armies Of Franz Joyef
What remain must be tended by the
women. who must also look after
their homes. tend the wounded M they
come back. and bnry the dead. Mean.
while the reserves are being plundrrcd
by such animals ~ remain and the
guards 10 these nre busy elsewhere.
Havoc. ruin viii result. and der'ruc,
tion from which the region will not
recover for weary decades to come.