The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-12-30

the country 1t that scientist in Melrose.
Mass. was endeavoring to produce new silkworm.
and experimenting imported these two species of
moths l believe he expected to them and
thereby get his silkworm. But anyhow he had them
breeding in the cellar of his house, and they multi
piled to such numbers that they finally escaped. The
result was that in short decade they had devast-
ated the forests of Massachusetts, and SINCE those of
practically all New England. Not only the forests but
the shade trees along the and private estates
10 walk thru the residential sections of any of the
Massachusetts cities towns in the last few years.
you would imagine that they had been bombarded
with shrapnel, SO perforated was the foliage. :.
Another voracious foliage eating insect is the
elm beetle. This In conjunction with the elm borer
wood-e eating insect have practically destroyed the
elms OF the East amongst them the historical elms
of Cambridge and New Haven
While the ravages of these pests have been
checked to a certain extent by spraying the TO-
hage with poison, and by destroying their eggs with
chemical treatments and by burning them the de-
strucon has been great that the authorities have
seriously considered numbering off the remaining
forests, and planting white pine forests in their
stead because that the only with foliage that
is not edible to them
In the West where sheep and goats are raised
in great numbers, much damage has been done by
them to the forests. By stamping with their sharp
hoofs they destroy the forest floor and many young
seedlings
Disease has also caused great destruction to
the forests of this country. Two of the most COM
mon and those which have done the greatest damage
are the pine the ungous disease which has af
fected the chestnut trees. The last named has de-
stroyed nearly all of the beautiful chestnut forests
of Pennsylvania. 1t is a growth similar to mush-
rooms or oadstools is scattered and carried by the
wind, and where tree has a wound or abrasion it
nects it and eventually spreads over the whole tree
destroying it, The only means of checking il is to.
cut and burn any infected trees to remove all fall
en- trees and debris, and to spray with copper-sul-
plate solution
The destruction caused by wanton and care
less numbering has been great and needless For if
any system had been used the profits would have
been just much and steady reproduction would
have been assured But since the pioneers first
settled in this country lumbermen have in obtain
ing their yearly TOLL destroyed the means for future
forests for generations to come. And the future
generations will be made realize unless drastic
measures taken now.
What this country should have Is national
supervision of all forests such they have in Ger
many, France, Switzerland and in Norway and
Sweden. In fact with the exception of China. all
civilized nations for the Forest Until recently
the United States ranked nearly with China in this
respect.
The forests of the United States cover an
of 500, 100000 acres. than thirty five
per cent OF the surface of the country. The forests
of the PHILIPPINE Islands cover of more than
40, OOO, 900 acres"
Our Forests" Before so large part of
them destroyed they the richest on earth.
and with proper and foresight they are capable
of being 80 again.
Fire