Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-04-08
'eople also enjoyed a high degree OF

Like Americans they became
profligate with their timber supply. They
used It UP entirely. and took no measures
to replace forest growth.
As natural and inevitable result tho
hills Of China became entirely denuded
OF forest and other protection. It thus
came about that when great rains fell.
the waters were not held on the high
ground by forest and vegetable growth,
by the MOSES and the grateful shades,
but swept into the valleys in great floods.
This process of flood and soil erosion had
a far-reaching effect on the fertility Of
China. as we'll as on the habits and Gus
toms Of the Chinese people, They are fore
ed to keep their homes beyond the reach
Of floods and tho cultivated and pro-
ductive area Is constantly restricted, while
the population In the livable portions Of
China is constantly becoming more
dense. Eighty per cent Of the talk of the
Chinese to-day is about food. People draw
vehicles and otherwise slave for a few
cents. and theft Of the most ordinary
waste is not uncommon. because Of lack
Of food.
Professor Hastings made a striking
comparison Of the policy followed in
China and that now being carried out
in Vermont and elsewhere In America.
Half century ago Burlington was the
second greatest lumber market in Amer.
lea, being surpassed only by New York.
Later on the lumber center shifted to
Pennsylvania, then to the Great Lakes
region. a little later on to the southern
pine region and now II Is veering to tho
Northwest. He made the startling state
ment that the Northwest supply would
be exhausted in a generation and that
Canada would have the same experience.
The crown lands even now will not let
timber leave the Dominion except in some
manufactured form. including pulp for
print paper. Unless forestry is undertaken
on an extensive scale America will speed
lily face conditions similar to the hills Of
denuded China.
Professor Hastings said scientific for
estry is not only a remedy for the menace
| of timber famine. but It can also be
made profitable. He cited how different
cities in Europe had bought forest lands
and secured large revenue therefrom.
Germany is the complete antithesis of
China as regards scientific forestry. The
central government has charge Of the
activity, but smaller political divisions are
encouraged to own forest tracts.
Professor Hastings says that Vermont
has nearly 100000 acres Of forest land
about one-half Of which is useless. The
remaining half could be made profitable
for the commonwealth through State and
municipal ownership. About $15. 900 a veal
is now devoted to forestry work in the
State. Two foresters are employed. About
half of the work Of the department ii
devoted to the protection Of the forests
from fire. We are doing little II anything
to guard against blight and destruction
by insects. To get 100 per cent of eff
ficiency in forestry there should be
forester for every 10000 acres Of for
est.
Prof. Hastings believes the federal gov
eminent will be forced either to induce
the States to undertake this work or t
inaugurate forestry work throughout thu
country itself. He believes in the end thu
federal government should do this worl
of development, leaving the States to car
OF this condition. he says that the tax
payers of Vermont should not be expected
to tax themselves for the forestation o
the hills for the benefit of the few VIII
would sell the timber and for the benefi
Of the larger centers near the mouth
, Of streams that are protected from flood
izing Of watersheds. As a matter Of jus
, tice bonding scheme should be inaugu
rated with the bonds becoming due o
maturing, when the benefits OF forestr
, will be enjoyed by another generation
Professor Hastings says the Vernon
forestry department is not planting whit
, pine on account Of the blight. Red pin
l and Scotch pine, which are immune ar
I being planted. What we are doing eac
year in Vermont is encouraging. but
Is a disgrace that more il not being don,
And yet Pennsylvania is the only Stat
. in the union that IL doing more than Vel
mont
, The details Of the work in Vermont a
outlined In detail are interesting, but
I is more important that our people as
: whole as we'll as the people OF all State
/, shall study above everything else tn
y tremendous penalties we as a nation mus
suffer. II we neglect to start new forest
!, as we'll as to protect the new fore'
growth we have. Ample timber growth
at the very roots Of our national life
~ a variety of ways.
AGAN'S CANDIDACY
hav all 10 tha taI