Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-20
The Duty Of C0nserUmg
Georgia Tree IreasUr,l
MATTER Of much moment to Georgia

/ "A MATTER of much moment to Georgia
n is suggested by the savannah .alan NJ Morning
News when it urges the need of sys-
| tematlc fOEestatiOn Ito replace the vanish
ing fields of pines in the South, with their
golden wealth of rosin and shining treasure
of spirits" To what a sad extent these re-
sources have been depleted is unreaIzed,
perhaps, save by special observers and by
scientists who can interpret today in terms
of tomorrow, Yet even casual glances from
a car window will tell the traveller some
thing of the ruin which has been wrought
upon our woodlands; and if he will look UP
the records he will be astonished to see how
they expand and deepen this passing impress
sion.
If the only interest at stake were that in
| VOWED IN the timber supply it alone would
demand serious attention; for unless some
thing is done to offset the present rate of
deforestation the cost of lumber for ordi-
nary construction will grow virtually prohib-
tive. Already the problem is burdensome,
as any recent builder will attest in time it
VIII become insupportabIe, without more
care in the use and replacement of timber
resources.
But there are still weightier interests to
be considered, notably agriculture. AS the
great conservers of water supply and also
as material aids to rainfall, forests are
among the chief assets and necessities of
a farming State like Georgia. We shall do
well to take warning from the experience
of those regions of Europe and Asia where
IN consequence of the woods having been
cut away, rivers and streams have shrunk
and the soil turned barren for want Of
moisture.
Forward-thinking States are not only CO.
operating literally with the Federal Gov
eminent in the establishment of forest re-
serves but also on their own account are
doing extensive work both in conserving I'M
spoiled resources and in refOresting dennded
tIhlrtV-tlren baU
partments with annual appropriations rang
ing from thousand to five hundred thou
SAND dollars. few years ago New York
set aside two and a half million dollars for
the extension of her State-owned forest nre
serve OF some two million acres in the Adj
rondack and Catskll mountains For thn
purpose OF reforesting State lands and rails
ing trees Tor reforesting private lands six
nurseries are maintained, Having a total
cdpaclCy or thirty million trees and an an
nual production Of ten million; trees are
sold to private landowners at the cost of
production, to municipalities at fiftv cents
pei thousand, and are furnished to State in :
sutut1ons without charge 'T<7a
The New York State Conservation Com
mission, from whom we have quoted, adds
the peculiarly interesting remark that nm
der system of game protection, ''the fauna
natlVe to the woods is preserved and in
many respects is increasing. Chief among
the large animals are deer and bears Bea-
E0l' winch ndd become extinct, were reintro-
yucca 10 the Adirondacks in 1905 and have
since spread over every section of the woods
Ihey have also been introduced in the CATS
Kills and are becoming more abundant
mere. Numerous other fur-bearing ami
lnaIS' such as the mink, otter, fox and musk
rat are raised extensively in these reserves
WINE the lakes and streams are kent nIen
tlIully stocked with trout bass. pickerei
perch and divers other fish, ~
Here we have a suggestion of what Geor-
gla could do, and should do both as an
enterprise in pleasure-giyingt public = serv-
Ice and as greatly needed protection for
her agricultural future. 1t is much to be.
hoped that ere long we shall have in this
state we'll supported Forestry department
engaged in carrying out constructive and
comprehensive plans. Meanwhile. some al
mlfable work is being done by the Forestry
sonooI OF the State College of Aesricu1tnre
ALf" James B. Berry's interesting hookIat
lrees Ihe1r Use and Abuse" should he in
every, school library, and for that matter in /
every nome particularly every farm bome1
~ the state Sundry other publications. on
tnls subject by the College will he fowl
nl5nIy usetul, and maybe obtained for tho
askl lng or at nominal cost Certainly tho
n9CCef is one on which citizens. and mon
oIIy owners especially should inform thnn3-
serves once knowing the facts and tI1.
iar-feach1ng interests involved thew Wi, t ra4
Ial1 TO urge attentions" to the coneor W. loC
duty. pi0 ana private
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